Family: Poaceae
Origin, Description & Uses:
Urochloa glumaris is a tropical grass native to a broad region extending from Yunnan in China through tropical Asia and the Pacific. It is an annual to short-lived perennial grass that forms dense clumps with spreading stems and produces abundant seed. The species grows well in disturbed sites, roadsides, pastures, agricultural lands, and other open habitats. Although it has been used locally as forage for livestock in some parts of its range, it is generally not widely cultivated and is more commonly encountered as a volunteer grass in disturbed environments.
Risks & Threats:
In Hawaiʻi, Urochloa glumaris is naturalized on Oʻahu and possesses traits that are cause for concern because it can spread readily into disturbed areas and potentially invade natural habitats. Its rapid growth, prolific seed production, and ability to establish dense stands may allow it to compete with native vegetation and contribute to the degradation of tropical island ecosystems. Because this species is already naturalized in Hawaiʻi, landowners and land managers should avoid planting or intentionally spreading it and should manage existing populations where practical, particularly in areas where it is not yet widely established, to help limit further expansion. Whenever possible, choose a low-risk or native alternative for landscaping, restoration, or pasture plantings.
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized and weedy in agricultural, garden, and disturbance habitats
- Naturalized on O'ahu
- Congeneric weeds
- Allelopathic, toxic to animals, and hosts pests/pathogens
- Shade tolerant and adapts to wide soil range
- Produces viable seed and reproduces vegetatively
- Dispersed intentionally, unintentionally, as produce contaminant, by wind, and externally by animals
- Herbicide-responsive (management-relevant)
Low Risk Traits:
- No spines or burrs
- Palatable, not toxic to humans, no fire hazard
- Not dispersed by water, birds, or gut passage
- Not highly prolific seed-producing
