Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv., Poaceae

Click on an image for links to BIGGER PICTURES

Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia)).
High risk, score: 18 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific)).

Other Latin names:  Melinis tenuinervis Stapf; Panicum melinus Trin.; Panicum minutiflorum (P. Beauv.) Raspail

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: tang mi cao

English: Brazilian stink grass, efwatakala grass, melinis, molasses grass, stink grass, wynne grass

French: herbe à miel, herbe à molasse, herbe molasse, herbe molasses, mélinis

Rapa Nui: mauku piro

Spanish: chopín, pasto de gordura, pasto hediondo, pasto miel

Tongan: puakatau

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Branching perennial [grass], the culms to 90 cm long, ascending; foliage viscid (sticky), fragrant, with odor like molasses; blades up to nearly 1 ft. long, often reddish, the ligule a row of hairs; panicles 10-20 cm long, slender, purplish when young; spikelets less than 2.5 mm long; sterile lemmas awned, the awn 12 mm long or less" (Stone, 1970; p. 200).

"Herbacée pérenne en touffe dense, atteignant 1 à 2 m de hauteur, reconnaissable à ses tiges et feuilles abondamment poilues et collantes à forte odeur d’huile, et ses inflorescences dressées rousses ou rougêatres" (Meyer, 2008; p. 20).

Habitat/ecology:  "This spreading, perennial mat grass smothers everything around it. Once established, it forms monotypic stands from rooted runners. It is considered a good forage grass and therefore is not a candidate for biological control. It is adapted to fire, and the dense mats are generally only partly consumed. Regeneration from the remaining portions is rapid, and colony expansion into adjacent burned areas generally follows. It is found from sea level to 1,500 m in dry and mesic environments" in Hawai‘i (Smith, 1985; p. 195), to 2000 m in French Polynesia.  In Hawai‘i, "naturalized and common in primarily dry to mesic, disturbed, usually open areas, 120-1,220 m"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1562). "A serious pest in dryer environments because of sprawling growth and fire hazard in dry seasons"  (Motooka et al., 2003). 

"Espèce pionnière, colonisant les zones ouvertes et incendiées (il s’agit d’une plante pyrophile ou « pyrophyte », c’est-à-dire tolérante et adaptée aux incendies), elle n’est relativement pas consommée par les animaux (Cronk & Fuller, 1995)" (Meyer, 2008; p. 20).  In New Caledonia, "occupe en peuplements denses monospécifiques de grandes étendues de terrain. Peu commun aux Loyauté mais a été récolté à Tiga" (MacKee, 1994; p. 60).

Propagation:  The seeds are dispersed by wind.

Native range:  Africa; widely naturalized (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1985) (voucher ID: BISH 495534) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 205)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 22) "Introduced, probably relatively recently, as a fodder grass". Voucher cited: J. Pickard 3531 (NSW)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 12) "Introduced, probably relatively recently, as a fodder grass". Voucher cited: W.R. Sykes NI 547 (CHR)
Chile (offshore islands) Rapa Nui (Easter) Island	Rapa Nui (Easter) Island (Isla de Pasqua)	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2008) (pp. 20, 29) "Lors de cette mission, nous avons observé des tapis denses monospécifiques sur la majeure partie de l’île (excepté sur le sommet de Maunga Terevaka), notamment autour de Rano Kau, Rano Aroi et Rano Raraku où l’espèce menace directement les sites archéologiques. Il s’agit selon notre expérience de l’invasion la plus sévère et la plus spectaculaire du mélinis dans une île du Pacifique" (Meyer, 2008; p. 20-21).
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 10)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 342) Vouchers cited: DA 14349, DA 8318, DA 3525, DA 3526, DA 3615, DA 3617, DA 3659, DA 8009, DA 9170, DA 10139
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1965) (voucher ID: BISH 31713) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence, D.H. Lorence & W.L. Wagner 9500 (PAP), D.H. Lorence, L. Dunn, S.P. Perlman, K.R. Wood & J.-Y. Meyer 9023 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 601874) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000693) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1988) (voucher ID: PTBG 8517) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1995) (voucher ID: PTBG 21968) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39296) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 39560) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6891 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 554197) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: S.P. Perlman, K.R. Wood & J.-Y. Meyer 15866 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 102)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 339) Vouchers cited: Cartier 143, Cartier 243
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: C.L. Cartier 143 (PAP), C.L. Cartier 243 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 102)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 339) Voucher cited: Fosberg 61265
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 3193 (PAP), J. Florence 3276 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491721) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 558030) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 582489) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 38249) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10079 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 642460) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11200 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11408 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643773) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 644107) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 5544 (PAP) Adventice, menace pour la biodiversité.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 200-201)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 49)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 95) "Potential invader".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaho‘olawe Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1562)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 60)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Tiga	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 60)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 100) "Fernlands"
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381) Abondante, surtout sur schistes dans le Sud; occupe en peuplements denses monospécifiques de grandes étendues de terrain.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 60) Voucher cited: MacKee 12716
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 244, 246) Voucher cited: CHR 168746
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 53)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 5) Voucher: Flynn 6711 (PTBG, US, NIUE)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 12)
Niue Niue	Niue Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2000) (voucher ID: PTBG 30202) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora Beauv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 49)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 16)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3075) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora Beauv.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3140) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora Beauv.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced invasive	Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 124) Naturalized in numerous localities; an aggressive colonizer of recently cleared land.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 90)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 7) Rare.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 100) Vouchers cited: Soakai 244, Soakai 700
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 56) Uncommon. Voucher cited: Yuncker 16229
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 125541) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 125542) Taxon name on voucher: Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv.
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 7)
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 94)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive	Orapa, Warea (2005) Only known to be present on Wallis.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2007) (pp. 12, 27) Localement naturalisée en bordure de piste et en zone à toafa près de la station fourragère expérimentale de Hihifo ainsi qu’au sommet du mont Lulu en bordure de route en zone à toafa.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis (‘Uvea) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Jourdan, Hervé/Malau, Atoloto (2008) (p. 9)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 107) Fernlands

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	introduced invasive cultivated	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Planted for pasture and erosion control." Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Queensland Herbarium (2002) (p. 5)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Nicaragua (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Introduced into S. China as a fodder grass, locally naturalized. Hong Kong, Yunnan.
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 340)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Comoros Comoro Islands	Comoro Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Envahissant"

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)	USA (Florida)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Comments:  Because of its oil content, this grass can be a serious fire hazard. A serious invader in Hawai‘i, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna (Wagner et al., 1999, p. 1562; Meyer, 2000, p. 107).

Introduced into Guam, but not widely established (Stone, 1970; p. 200).

Control: 

Chemical: "Sensitive to glyphosate. HAVO staff reported control with foliar application of glyphosate at 1% product in water (Chris Zimmer, HAVO)" (Motooka et al., 2003).