Retz., Poaceae |
Present on Pacific Islands? yes
Primarily a threat at high elevations? no
Common name(s): [more details]
Chinese: xi ge cao |
English: lesser canarygrass, little-seed Canary grass, small Canary grass |
French: alpiste mineur, phalaris mineur |
Spanish: alfarin, alpiste, alpiste valillo, alpistillo, pasto romano |
Habit: grass
Description: "Habit: Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20-100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2-7.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5-10 cm long; 3-12 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform, or capitate; oblong, or ovate; 1-6 cm long; 1-2 cm wide. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 4-6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4-6.5 mm long; 1 times length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4-6.5 mm long; 1.5-1.6 times length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; winged on keel; winged above; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute. Florets: Basal sterile florets dissimilar; with vestigial lower floret; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of upper sterile floret subulate; 1-1.8 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; laterally compressed; 2.7-4 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute. Palea cartilaginous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent. Flower: Anthers 3; 1-1.5 mm long. Ovary glabrous. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.3-2.5 mm long. Hilum linear" (GrassBase).
Habitat/ecology: "Forests, riparian habitats, freshwater wetlands, coastal beaches. A native of dry, open places that grows generally on sandy soils. It is invasive because it forms dense swards and becomes dominant, displacing native plants and preventing overstorey regeneration. It is also a significant agricultural weed" (Weber, 2003; p. 319).
Propagation: Seed
Native range: Macaronesia, northern Africa, Europe, western and central Asia (GRIN).
Presence:
Pacific | |||
Country/Terr./St. & Island group |
Location |
Cited status &
Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction? |
Reference &
Comments |
Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Norfolk Islands |
Norfolk Island |
introduced
invasive cultivated |
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 12)
"Probably introduced as a fodder plant". Voucher cited: P.S. Green 1488 (A) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Hawaii (Big) Island |
introduced
invasive |
Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. (1999) (p. 29)
Vouchers cited: Olson s.n. (BISH 120196), Herbst 5945 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Molokai Island |
introduced
invasive |
Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. (1999) (p. 29)
Voucher cited: Munro 126 (BISH) |
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands |
Oahu Island |
introduced
invasive |
Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. (1999) (p. 29)
Voucher cited: Hitchcock 13915 (BISH) |
New Caledonia
New Caledonia |
New Caledonia Islands |
introduced
cultivated |
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 61)
"Seul spécimen"; voucher cited: Deplanche 70. Present status unknown. |
New Zealand (offshore islands)
Kermadec Islands |
Kermadec Islands |
introduced
invasive |
Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 354)
"Waste ground, roadsides, poor pasture, shingle and ballast". |
Philippines
Philippine Islands |
Philippine Islands |
Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 78)
Altitude about 1,500 m; probably a mere casual here. |
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) |
Australia (continental) |
introduced
invasive |
U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) |
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim) |
El Salvador (Republic of) | Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 273) | |
China
China |
China (People's Republic of) |
introduced
invasive |
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Wheat fields, introduced. Yunnan. |
Indonesia
Indonesia |
Indonesia (Republic of) | Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 115) | |
Japan
Japan |
Japan |
introduced
|
Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192) |
Mexico
Mexico |
Mexico (United Mexican States) | Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 115) | |
New Zealand
New Zealand |
New Zealand (country) |
introduced
invasive |
Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 354)
"Waste ground, roadsides, poor pasture, shingle and ballast". |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Colombia | Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 273) | |
South America (Pacific rim)
South America (Pacific rim) |
Ecuador (Republic of) (continental) | Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 273) |
Control:
Physical: "Scattered plants can be dug out. Cutting before fruits ripen prevents seed formation".
Chemical: "Larger patches can be treated with herbicides" (Weber, 2003; p. 319).