Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Urochloa pullulans Stapf

Common name(s): [more details]

English: African liverseed grass, sabi grass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "A perennial, variable in size and habit (Burt et al., 1980) sometimes stoloniferous or with a creeping rhizome. Culms 120 cm or more high, sometimes rooting and branched from the lower nodes. Leaf-sheaths with a ring of soft hairs at the nodes; leaf-blades 18 mm wide, hairy. Inflorescence up to 15 cm long of four to 12 racemes, 2.5-9 cm long; spikelets 3-5 mm long, acuminate or shortly awned (Chippendall, 1955). It is distinguished from U. panicoides in having a tubercle- based bristle in the middle of the lower lemma in the fresh state (Whiteman & Gillard, 1971)" (FAO).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "It will grow in a wide range of soils, from clay loams to sands, but appears to be more suitable for lighter soils with relatively high fertility. It can tolerate both acid and alkaline soils. It needs a rainy season of 10 to 16 weeks in summer with an annual rainfall of 600-1 200 mm and a five- to nine-month dry season. It responds well to early wet season storms. It is drought enduring. 700-1 000 m, but more adapted to the lower end of this range. It spreads well and becomes dominant in northern Australia after fires" (FAO).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Central and southern Africa (GRIN).

Presence:

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	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (p. 87)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1993) (p. 21)

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