Urochloa glumaris (Trin.) Veldkamp, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Brachiaria paspaloides (Presl) Hubbard; Panicum glumare Trin.; Urochloa paspaloides Presl

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: que bai wei fu cao

English: common signalgrass, thurston grass

Tahitian: nanamu ti‘a rahi

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Annual. Culms slender, spreading, branching and rooting at lower nodes, 20-60 cm or more tall, nodes pubescent. Leaf sheaths glabrous or loosely pilose; leaf blades linear, 5-20 x 0.3-0.8 cm, thinly pilose on both surfaces with tubercle-based hairs, apex acuminate; ligule ca. 1 mm. Inflorescence axis 1.5-4 cm; racemes 2-4, 2-5 cm, rather stiffly ascending; rachis narrow, triquetrous, scabrous; spikelets usually paired, loosely overlapping. Spikelets lanceolate, 3.5-4 mm, glabrous, sharply acute; lower glume lanceolate, 2/3-3/4 spikelet length, 5-7-veined, acute and apiculate; upper glume 5-7-veined, sharply acute; lower lemma obscurely 5-veined, palea very small; upper lemma elliptic-oblong, only slightly shorter than spikelet, finely rugulose, mucro 0.4-0.5 mm"  (Flora of China online).

"Perennial, the culms creeping, slender, branched, 30-150 cm high, the nodes glabrous; leaf blades glabrous, 5-15 cm long, 2.5-10 mm broad; panicle 5-15 cm long, bearing 2-7 spikelike racemes, these spreading or reflexed; spikelets alike, solitary, falling entire, 2-flowered, the lower glume three-quarters length of spikelet"  (Smith, 1979; pp. 330-331).

"Stems slender, decumbent to sub-erect, tending to root at the lower nodes, mostly less than 30 cm tall.  Leaves pubescent, more or less tufted hairy at the sheath apex.  Leaf blades to ca. 20 cm long, often much less.  Inflorescence rachis pubescent.  Racemes 2-3 cm long, tending secund.  Spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, apiculate; outer glume nearly as long as rest of the spikelet"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 235).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "In moist, sunny or shaded situations in lawns, plantations, upland rice, riverbanks and roadsides, 0-1200 m altitude" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 51-62).  "A weed of moist localities" (Stone, 1970; p. 205). In Fiji, "commonly found at low elevations (usually below 15 m) along roadsides, in pastures, in waste places, in cultivated areas, near the seashore, and often forming mats on the dry mud of riverbanks." Apparently an early introduction into Fiji which has become naturalized and widespread. (Smith, 1979; pp. 330-331).  In Niue, "in waste, or at least disturbed, places near the coast, and probably it is present in many plantations" (Sykes, 1970; p. 235). In New Caledonia, "largement répandu" (MacKee, 1994; p. 57). "Occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 47).

Propagation:  "Seeds and root fragments dispersed externally by animals" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998).

Native range:  Probably indigenous to tropical Asia (Sykes, 1970; p. 235).  "Probably an aboriginal introduction to Western Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 47).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 3062
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Whistler 1384, Whistler 3331a
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1990) (voucher ID: PTBG 9119) Taxon name on voucher: Brachiaria paspaloides
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 89)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988) (p. 3)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31639 (US, BISH, Fo) Rare
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Nassau Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013) ?
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Kapingamarangi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 61)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Voucher cited: DA 9069
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Voucher cited: DA 8940
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 593, Tothill s. n., DA 5700, U.S. Expl. Exped. 1840
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Vouchers cited: DA 8547, DA 9797, Smith 4749, DA 8978, DA 7983, DA 9103, DA 7049, DA 7885, DA 1221, DA 3964, DA 1325, Degener & Ordonez 13516, DA 1195
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Panicum ambiguum C.B. Trinius Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Panicum ambiguum C.B. Trinius Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Grant 4877
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Voucher cited: J. Florence 12130 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Krauss 1655
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11716 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Fosberg 64855
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 14) Vouchers cited: Raynal 17861, Fosberg 64855 (US), Fosberg & Sachet 64960 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Panicum ambiguum C.B. Trinius. Voucher cited: F.R. Fosberg 64855 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Mehetia (Mahetia, Meetia) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Vouchers cited: J. Florence 10254 (PAP), J. Florence 10317 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Vouchers cited: Moore 74, Moore 99
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3387 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Vouchers cited: Grant 3995, Florence 3196
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Voucher cited: J. Florence 3196 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5597 (PAP), J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11378 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347)
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Panicum ambiguum C.B. Trinius Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rimatara (Rimitara) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Panicum ambiguum C.B. Trinius Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Brachiaria paspaloides (J.S. Presl ex C.B. Presl) C.E. Hubbard. Vouchers cited: J. Florence 5514 (PAP), J. Florence 9229 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 205) Vouchers cited: Stone 4103 (GUAM), Stone 4981 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largment répandue.
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57) Voucher cited: Vieillard 2351
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largment répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 235) Vouchers cited: CHR 168781, CHR 168782
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 47)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 54) Voucher cited: Whistler 10879
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
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)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 47)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 89)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 52)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Voucher cited: Soakai 655
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Voucher cited: Soakai 985 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Vouchers cited: Moseley s.n., Soakai 926
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Vouchers cited: Crosby 186, Soakai 900

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) "Mountain slopes, forests". Hainan, Yunnan
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Ryukyu Islands	Ryukyu Islands	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 89) Weed of uncertain origin
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 52-53) As Brachiaria paspaloides (Presl) C.E. Hubb.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Urochloa glumaris, please let us know.