Koeleria micrathera Griseb., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Other Latin names:  Koeleria kurtzii Hack. ex Kurtz; Leptophyllochloa micrathera (E. Desv.) C.E. Calderón

Common name(s): [more details]

English: June grass, crested hair-grass, prairie junegrass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 4-35 cm long; 2-3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2-0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1-10 cm long; 0.5-2 mm wide. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; nodding; 1-10 cm long. Panicle branches glabrous. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; scaberulous. Fertile spikelets: Spikelets comprising 2-4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.75-5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose. Floret callus pubescent. Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1-3 mm long; 0.33-0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 2-4.5 mm long; 0.66-1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate. Florets: Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3-4.5 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5-3 mm long overall. Palea 0.5-0.75 length of lemma; hyaline. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Flower: Lodicules 2; oblong; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.2-0.3 mm long. Ovary glabrous"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized and common on dry slopes in pastures, grassland, and disturbed slopes in pastures, grassland, and disturbed areas, 1,370-2,830 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1557).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southern South America  (GrassBase).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 554)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1557) Voucher cited: Rock 3257 (BISH)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Koeleria micrathera, please let us know.