Family: Poaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Broad climate suitability
  
• Naturalized in areas with subtropical climates
  
• Widely naturalized, including all main Hawaiian Islands except Ni'ihau and Kaho'olawe
  
• A weed of crops, cultivated and wasteland, paths, roadsides, etc.
  
• Other Poa species are invasive
  
• Host of crop pests
  
• Allergenic (causes hayfever)
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seed
  
• Self-pollinated
  
• Able to reproduce vegetatively by rooting at nodes
  
• Annual forms reach maturity in <1 year
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind, water or attached to animal fur, livestock and vehicles and as a seed contaminant
  
• Viable seeds also dispersed internally by grazing animals
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Seeds may persist in the soil for 4-6 years
  
• Tolerates mowing and trampling

Low Risk Traits:

• May only be a threat to higher elevation areas with tropical to subtropical climates
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to browsing and grazing animals
  
• Used as a turfgrass
  
• Some herbicides may provide effective control, although herbicide resistance is reported