(L.) Kunth, Poaceae |
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Other Latin names: Diplachne fusca (L.) P. Beauv. ex Roem. & Schult.; Leptochloa malabarica (L.) Veldkamp; Leptochloa uninervia (J. Presl) Hitchc. & Chase [= Leptochloa fusca subsp. uninervia]
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: shuang fu cao |
English: Malabar sprangletop, Mexican sprangletop, bearded sprangletop, beetle grass, brown beetle grass, littoral sprangletop, sprangletop, swamp grass |
Spanish: paja gris |
Habit: grass
Description: "Habit: Perennial. Culms decumbent; 60-150 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3-8 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 25-55 cm long; 3-5 mm wide; stiff; mid-green and grey-green. Leaf-blade midrib widened. Leaf-blade surface scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate. Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 10-30; borne along a central axis; erect; straight; unilateral; 7-15 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15-30 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled, or sessile. Pedicels filiform; 0.5-1.5 mm long. Spikelets comprising 6-11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 8-15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas. Floret callus evident; pubescent; obtuse; disarticulating obliquely. Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.1-4.6 mm long; 0.6-0.7 times length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume oblong; 3.3-7.4 mm long; 1-1.3 times length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute; mucronate. Florets: Fertile lemma oblong; 3.2-5.9 mm long; membranous; dark green, or grey; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pilose; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.3-1.6 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Flower: Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.2-2.7 mm long. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; flattened; concavo-convex; 1.6-1.8 mm long" (GrassBase).
ssp. uninervia (J. Presl) Hitchc. & Chase: "Annuals; culms tufted, decumbent or erect, 7.5-13 dm tall, branching above base. Sheaths chartaceous, only loosely clasping culms when older, persistent, glabrous, slightly scabrous, apex prolonged into auricles; ligule 1.5-2 mm long, membranous, truncate, margins entire but often frayed; blades linear, flat or involute, 6-45 cm long, 3-6 mm wide, slightly scabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, oblong to ovoid, 10-35 cm long, racemes numerous on an elongate axis, branches usually appressed to ascending, rarely spreading; spikelets appressed to the branches, 5-9-flowered, 3-8 mm long, overlapping by 1/3 their length; glumes unequal, ovate to oblong, glabrous, distinctly 1-nerved, the nerve scabrous, apex truncate to acute, finely ciliate, mucronate, first glume 0.8-1.4 mm long, second glume 1.6-2 mm long, occasionally with lateral lobes; lemmas pale green, oblong, 2-2.5 mm long, 3-nerved, margins membranous and appressed-pilose, apex rounded to acute, finely fimbriate, ± mucronate; palea pale green, elliptic to obovate, 2-2.5 mm long, 2-nerved, margins membranous and appressed-pilose, apex acute. Caryopsis pale brown, obovate, 1-1.2 mm long, dorsally compressed" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1558).
Habitat/ecology: In Hawaii, "naturalized in wet, disturbed places such as along irrigation ditches and in shallow, standing water, 0-580 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1558).
Propagation: Seed
Native range: Tropics and subtropics worldwide (GRIN).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaii (Big) Island |
introduced
invasive |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558)
Ssp. uninervia |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Kauai Island |
introduced
invasive |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558)
Ssp. uninervia |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Lānai Island |
introduced
invasive |
Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 21)
Ssp. uninervia. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H40121 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Maui Island |
introduced
invasive |
Herbst, Derral R./Clayton, W. D. (1998) (p. 29)
As. Leptochloa uninervia (K. Presl) Hitchc. & Chase |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Molokai Island |
introduced
invasive |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558)
Ssp. uninervia |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Oahu Island |
introduced
invasive |
Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558)
Ssp. uninervia; voucher cited: Herbst 458 (BISH) |
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) |
Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (other Pacific offshore islands)
Midway Atoll |
Midway Atoll |
introduced
invasive |
Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim (2000) (p. 11)
As. Leptochloa uninervia (K. Presl) Hitchc. & Chase; voucher cited: Starr & Martz 990507-3 |
Pacific Rim | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
New South Wales |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Australia (continental) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Northern Territory |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Australia
Australia (continental) |
Queensland |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Cambodia
Cambodia |
Cambodia (Kingdom of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Costa Rica (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Honduras (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
Nicaragua (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
native
|
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Shallow water, marshy, sometimes brackish ground. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Yunnan, Zhejiang. |
Indonesia
Indonesia |
Indonesia (Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Japan
Japan |
Japan |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Japan
Japan |
Japan |
introduced
|
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192) |
Malaysia
Malaysia |
Malaysia (country of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Mexico
Mexico |
Mexico (United Mexican States) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
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) |
Colombia |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Ecuador (Republic of) (continental) |
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) |
Taiwan
Taiwan Island |
Taiwan Island |
native
|
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Shallow water, marshy, sometimes brackish ground. |
Thailand
Thailand |
Thailand (Kingdom of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (Oregon) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (California) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (west coast)
United States (west coast states) |
USA (Washington) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Vietnam
Vietnam |
Vietnam (Socialist Republic of) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Indian Ocean | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
British Indian Ocean Territory
Chagos Archipelago |
Diego Garcia Island |
introduced
invasive |
Whistler, W. Arthur (1996) (p. 24)
As Leptochloa uninervia (Presl) Hitchc. & Chase |
Also reported from | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
United States (other states) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
United States (continental except west coast)
United States (other states) |
USA (Florida) |
native
|
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Control: If you know of control methods for Leptochloa fusca, please let us know.