Family: Poaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Grows in higher elevation tropical climates
- Naturalized on Hawaii island
- Weedy grass, with possible detrimental impacts to ranching
- Other Nassella species are invasive
- Tolerates many soil types
- Reproduces by seed
- Hybridizes with other Nassella species
- Self-compatible (cleistogamous)
- Seeds dispersed by wind, people and externally attached to animals
- Perennial, but able to reach maturity in <1 year
- Seeds able to be stored for extended periods; May form a persistent seed bank
- Resprouts after mowing and fires
- Limited ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- May only be invasive at higher elevations
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
- Palatable to grazing animals
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Herbicides may provide effective control