Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Dinebra panicea (red sprangletop) is a tufted annual grass native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and the Americas. This species grows upright with slender stems and open, branching seed heads that often have a reddish or purplish tint. Red sprangletop is commonly found in disturbed areas, roadsides, lawns, agricultural settings, and moist open habitats. In some regions it has been used as a minor forage grass for livestock and is sometimes considered useful for quick ground cover in disturbed soils.

Risks & Threats
Red sprangletop is naturalized on Oʻahu and possesses traits that raise concerns for Hawaiʻi and other tropical island ecosystems. This grass produces abundant seed, establishes readily in disturbed environments, and can spread quickly in open or wet habitats. It may compete with native vegetation and contribute to the displacement of desirable plant communities, particularly in managed landscapes and sensitive lowland habitats. Because tropical islands are especially vulnerable to invasive grasses and their long-term ecological impacts, introducing or planting this species is not recommended. Choosing low risk or native alternatives can help protect Hawaiʻi’s unique ecosystems and reduce the spread of potentially invasive plants.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (warm temperate to tropical)
  
• Native or naturalized in tropical/subtropical regions
  
• Naturalized beyond native range
  
• Weed of agriculture (rice, maize, sugarcane, cotton, pastures)
  
• Congeneric weed (L. chinensis)
  
• Tolerates light shade
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (including heavy soils and moist areas)
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Wind-pollinated (no specialist pollinator required)
  
• Annual, reaches maturity in <1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed unintentionally (contaminant of produce, vehicles, machinery)
  
• Seeds dispersed by water and externally by animals
  
• Forms a seed bank (annual dormancy/non-dormancy cycle)
  
• Some herbicide treatments show <50% control

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Used as fodder (not unpalatable)
  
• No reported toxicity to animals or humans
  
• No vegetative fragmentation (annual grass without rhizomes)
  
• Not bird-dispersed (no fleshy fruit)