Setaria parviflora (Poir.) Kergu‚len, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Setaria geniculata P. Beauv.; Setaria gracilis Kunth

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: you gou wei cao

English: knotroot bristle grass, knotroot foxtail, slender pigeon grass, yellow foxtail

French: que de rat

Hawaiian: mau‘u Kaleponi

Spanish: cepillo, chilena, chilicua, cola de zorro, grama, gusanillo, gusanito, gusano, limpia botella, munchira, pega-pega, rabo de gato, rabo de zorro

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennials with a hard, knotty caudex or with short rhizomes; culms tufted, erect or sometimes decumbent and even rooting at lower nodes, 3-12 dm long, up to 2 mm in diameter, hollow, glabrous, branching from lower and middle nodes.  Sheaths compressed, keeled, glabrous, the margins scarious; ligule ciliate, less than 1 mm long; blades flat, up to 25 cm long, 2-10 mm wide, upper surface glabrous or with a few long hairs near base.  Panicles dense, spike-like, 1-8 cm long, up to 2.5 cm in diameter (including the yellow or bronze-colored bristles), the primary branches up to 0.5 cm long, the bristles subtending the spikelet 4-12, antrorsely scabrous, 2-15 mm long, rachis puberulent; spikelets green or purple-tinged, 1 (2) per primary branch, ellipsoid, 2-2.8 mm long; first glume deltate, 0.8-1 mm long, 3-4-nerved, second glume 1.1-1.4 mm long, much shorter than second lemma, 5-nerved; first lemma herbaceous to somewhat coriaceous, as long as the spikelet, 5-7-nerved, midnerve sometimes grooved, apex apiculate; first palea ovate, hyaline, 2-nerved, apex acute; second lemma often purple, rigid, ovate, strongly convex, transversely rugose, apex acute; second palea equal, rugose, concave, keels prominent, enclosing base of the caryopsis.  Caryopsis whitish, ellipsoid"  (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1592, 1912).

"This species is distinguished by the short, knotty rhizomes, the short, hairy ligule, the knee-like joints at the stem base and the typical foxtail inflorescence" (Holm et al., 1997; p. 753).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "Found in perennial and annual crops, pastures, roadsides, gardens, orchards, ditch banks, lake borders and waste areas. It is native to the tropical Americas and grows from sea level to over 3000 m in this region"  (Holm et al., 1997; p. 753).  "In swamps and fields, along roadsides, and common in cultivated ground, at low and medium elevations" (Wiggins & Porter, 1971; p. 878).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in wet to dry, disturbed areas such as pastures, urban sites, agricultural land, along roadsides, and mesic to wet forest, 0-1,480 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1592).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Tropical Americas (Holm et al., 1997; p. 753).

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. 557)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (p. 557)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 225) As Setaria geniculata.
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis. Voucher cited: Heller 2469 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2000) (p. 15) Voucher cited: J. Rémy 106 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1592, 1912) As S. gracilis
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Enewetak (Ãnewetak, Eniwetok) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 585) "Tracksides, road cuttings, waste land; also recorded as a weed in vineyards".
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 58)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 72) As Setaria geniculata (Lam.) Beauv. In open grasslands at low and medium altitudes, ascending to 1,800 m.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)

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)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
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)	El Salvador (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (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)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 347) As Setaria geniculata (Lam.) P. Beauv. On hillslopes or in wasteland.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192) As Setaria gracilis Kunth
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 585) "Tracksides, road cuttings, waste land; also recorded as a weed in vineyards".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 79) Common
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
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	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Holm, Leroy/Doll, Jerry/Holm, Eric/Pancho, Jaun/Herberger, James (1997) (p. 751)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Setaria parviflora, please let us know.