Family: Poaceae

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