Urochloa mutica

Urochloa mutica
Conservation status

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Urochloa
Species: U. mutica
Binomial name
Urochloa mutica
(Forssk.) T.Q.Nguyen
Synonyms

Brachiaria mutica

Urochloa mutica is a species of grass known by the common names para grass, buffalo grass, Mauritius signal grass, pasto pare, malojilla, gramalote, parana, Carib grass, and Scotch grass.[1][2] Despite its common name California grass,[1] it does not occur in California;[3] it is native to Africa, where it is cultivated for fodder.[2] It was introduced elsewhere and it is now cultivated throughout tropical regions of the world for this purpose.[1]

This perennial grass has stems up to 3 meters high when growing erect or more than 5 meters long when creeping along the ground. The inflorescence is a pyramidal panicle up to 25 centimeters long by 10 wide with many branches. The small paired spikelets are green or purplish.[4] The grass spreads aggressively across the substrate via stolon.[5] It produces seeds prolifically but the germination rate is low, so it more commonly spreads via stolon.[2]

This species may have been introduced to the Americas on slave ships, on which it was used for bedding. It was in South America by the early 1800s and Mexico by 1872. It was introduced to Florida by the late 1870s to be used as fodder. It has since escaped cultivation in many areas and it now grows as a widespread weed. It is sensitive to frost so it generally does not persist outside warm regions.[1]

This grass can grow in wet and submerged habitat. When used as forage for cattle it is usually controlled by the action of the animals, so it does not become too weedy. When it grows in other habitats, however, it can become noxious. It can grow in drainage ditches and canals, where it can form floating mats that clog the waterways to the point of impeding water flow and preventing boat passage. It is aggressive and can form dense stands. It may also have allelopathic effects on other plants, preventing their growth.[6]

Invasive species

The plant is an invasive species in many Pacific Islands and Pacific Rim countries.[7]

Australia

The plant has invaded the northern and north-western areas of Australia has the potential to spread further inland.[8] It is present in Kakadu National Park. In Australia, this grass forms vast stands, destroying waterfowl nesting habitat and displacing native plants.[9][10]

United States

In Florida this grass grows in various wetland habitat types, such as marshes and floodplains, as well as disturbed areas such as roadsides. In Hawaii this grass is widespread, especially in freshwater wetlands and in red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) stands. It is thought to be a cause of the decline of the rare Hawaiian endemic Boyd's maiden fern (Thelypteris boydiae).[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Stone, Katharine R. 2010. Urochloa mutica. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Urochloa mutica. Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce.
  3. ↑ Urochloa mutica. USDA Plants Profile.
  4. ↑ Urochloa mutica. Grass Manual Treatment.
  5. ↑ Urochloa mutica. USDA Forest Service Weed of the Week.
  6. ↑ Urochloa mutica. Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida.
  7. ↑ "Global Invasive Species Database: Distribution of Urochloa mutica". Invasive Species Specialist Group. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Weed Identification - Para Grass". Weeds Australia. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  9. ↑ Urochloa mutica. National Weeds Strategy.
  10. ↑ Urochloa mutica. FloraBase: The Western Australian Flora.

External links