Family: Poaceae
Urochloa brizantha (palisade grass, bread grass) is a grass native to tropical Africa. It is commonly cultivated as a livestock feed, and used for grazing, hay and fodder. It is the most common forage used in Brazil, with a range of more than 70,000 square km. This grass has been purposely introduced into many parts of the tropics, and is naturalized on the islands of Oʻahu and Maui. This grass can be potentially damaging to livestock under certain conditions, may increase fire risk, thrives in the tropics, grows in dense stands and produces prolific seeds. These qualities cause it to be considered high-risk.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad climate suitability and elevation range
- Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates
- Naturalized on Maui, possibly Kahoolawe (Hawaiian Islands) and elsewhere
- Common weed of disturbed areas in the humid tropics and subtropics
- An environmental weed in Brazil
- Other Urochloa species are invasive
- Allelopathic
- Potentially toxic or harmful to grazing animals under certain growing conditions
- May modify fire regime and potentially increase fire risk
- Moderate shade tolerance
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms a dense cover that can exclude other vegetation
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by sods, root pieces and stems
- Apomictic
- Seeds dispersed by vehicles, humans, cattle, other livestock and as a seed contaminant
- Prolific seed production
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite naturalization, negative impacts have not been reported from the Hawaiian Islands to date
- Valued as a pasture grass in areas where it may also be regarded as weedy
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Palatable to grazing animals
- Does not form a long-lived seed bank
- Herbicides may provide effective control
