Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)


Buchloe dactyloides


RISK ASSESSMENT RESULTS: Low risk, score: 4.5 (low risk based on second screen)


Australian/New Zealand Weed Risk Assessment adapted for Hawai‘i.

Research directed by C. Daehler (UH Botany) with funding from the Kaulunani Urban Forestry Program and US Forest Service

Information on Risk Assessments
Original risk assessment

Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm. (buffalo grass)

Answer

1.01

Is the species highly domesticated?

y=-3, n=0

n

1.02

Has the species become naturalized where grown?

y=-1, n=-1

n

1.03

Does the species have weedy races?

y=-1, n=-1

n

2.01

Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) – If island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute “wet tropical” for “tropical or subtropical”

See Append 2

1

2.02

Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) see appendix 2

1

2.03

Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility)

y=1, n=0

y

2.04

Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or subtropical climates

y=1, n=0

n

2.05

Does the species have a history of repeated introductions outside its natural range? y=-2

?=-1, n=0

y

3.01

Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2), n= question 2.05

n

3.02

Garden/amenity/disturbance weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

y

3.03

Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.04

Environmental weed y = 2*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

3.05

Congeneric weed y = 1*multiplier (see Append 2)

n=0

n

4.01

Produces spines, thorns or burrs

y=1, n=0

n

4.02

Allelopathic

y=1, n=0

4.03

Parasitic

y=1, n=0

n

4.04

Unpalatable to grazing animals

y=1, n=-1

n

4.05

Toxic to animals

y=1, n=0

n

4.06

Host for recognized pests and pathogens

y=1, n=0

n

4.07

Causes allergies or is otherwise toxic to humans

y=1, n=0

n

4.08

Creates a fire hazard in natural ecosystems

y=1, n=0

y

4.09

Is a shade tolerant plant at some stage of its life cycle

y=1, n=0

n

4.1

Tolerates a wide range of soil conditions (or limestone conditions if not a volcanic island)

y=1, n=0

n

4.11

Climbing or smothering growth habit

y=1, n=0

n

4.12

Forms dense thickets

y=1, n=0

n

5.01

Aquatic

y=5, n=0

n

5.02

Grass

y=1, n=0

y

5.03

Nitrogen fixing woody plant

y=1, n=0

n

5.04

Geophyte (herbaceous with underground storage organs -- bulbs, corms, or tubers)

y=1, n=0

n

6.01

Evidence of substantial reproductive failure in native habitat

y=1, n=0

n

6.02

Produces viable seed.

y=1, n=-1

y

6.03

Hybridizes naturally

y=1, n=-1

n

6.04

Self-compatible or apomictic

y=1, n=-1

n

6.05

Requires specialist pollinators

y=-1, n=0

n

6.06

Reproduction by vegetative fragmentation

y=1, n=-1

y

6.07

Minimum generative time (years) 1 year = 1, 2 or 3 years = 0, 4+ years = -1

See left

1

7.01

Propagules likely to be dispersed unintentionally (plants growing in heavily trafficked areas)

y=1, n=-1

y

7.02

Propagules dispersed intentionally by people

y=1, n=-1

y

7.03

Propagules likely to disperse as a produce contaminant

y=1, n=-1

y

7.04

Propagules adapted to wind dispersal

y=1, n=-1

n

7.05

Propagules water dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.06

Propagules bird dispersed

y=1, n=-1

n

7.07

Propagules dispersed by other animals (externally)

y=1, n=-1

y

7.08

Propagules survive passage through the gut

y=1, n=-1

y

8.01

Prolific seed production (>1000/m2)

y=1, n=-1

n

8.02

Evidence that a persistent propagule bank is formed (>1 yr)

y=1, n=-1

y

8.03

Well controlled by herbicides

y=-1, n=1

y

8.04

Tolerates, or benefits from, mutilation, cultivation, or fire

y=1, n=-1

y

8.05

Effective natural enemies present locally (e.g. introduced biocontrol agents)

y=-1, n=1

Total score:

4.5

Supporting data:

Notes

Source

1.01

No evidence

1.02

"naturalized elsewhere" [could not find evidence to support this vague statements]

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Buchloe+dactyloides (14 June 2004)

1.03

No evidence

2.01

(1)Buffalo grass is a very hardy grass and grows mostly in the North American prairies. The North American prairies lie in the middle of the continent and have a dry climate during the summer, and a very cold and windy climate in the winter. (2)Buffalograss can be found in medium to fine textured soils of the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau. (3)Native to the U..S. (4)Buffalograss is native to the Great Plains from Montana to Texas

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/buda.htm (3)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (4)http://www.bamertseed.com/descriptions/buffalograss.htm

2.02

Distributional range:
Native: (links to other web resources are provided for some distributions)
NORTHERN AMERICA
Western Canada: Canada - Manitoba, Saskatchewan
North-Central U.S.A.: United States - Illinois, Iowa [w.], Kansas, Minnesota [s.w.], Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota
Northwestern U.S.A.: United States - Colorado, Montana, Wyoming
Southeastern U.S.A.: United States - Arkansas, Louisiana [w.]
South-Central U.S.A.: United States - New Mexico, Texas
Southwestern U.S.A.: United States - Arizona, Nevada [w.], Utah [Daggett Co.]
Northern Mexico: Mexico - Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas
Central Mexico: Mexico - Aguascalientes, Federal District, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Queretaro
Other: naturalized elsewhere

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Buchloe+dactyloides (14 June 2004)

2.03

(1)USDA zones 03a-09b (2)adapted to low-rainfall areas that may incur unacceptable weed encroachment when grown in higher rainfall areas such as Florida.

(1)http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/BU/Buchloe%20dactyloides.htm (2)McCarty, L.B.; Colvin, D.L. 1992. Buffalograss tolerance to postemergence herbicides.. HortScience v. 27 (8): p. 898-899

2.04

(1)Buffalo grass is a very hardy grass and grows mostly in the North American prairies. The North American prairies lie in the middle of the continent and have a dry climate during the summer, and a very cold and windy climate in the winter. (2)Buffalograss can be found in medium to fine textured soils of the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau. (3)Native to the U..S. (4)Buffalograss is native to the Great Plains from Montana to Texas [Northern Mexico only]

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/buda.htm (3)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (4)http://www.bamertseed.com/descriptions/buffalograss.htm

2.05

(1) China, (2) Japan, (3) Hawaii

(1) Zhao BingXiang Hu Lin Chen ZuoZhong Zhang FuSuo Zhang XinMin (2003) Evapotranspiration rates and crop coefficients of turfgrasses in North China. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2003, Vol. 25, No. 6, pp. 39-44, 27 ref.
(2) Park, B. J.; Asano, Y. (2003) Resistance of turfgrasses to the lawn cutworm, Spodoptera depravata (Butler). Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology, 2003, Vol. 47, No. 4, pp. 165-168, 10 ref.
(3) Rotar, P.R. (1968) Grasses of Hawaii, University of hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 355 pp.

3.01

"naturalized elsewhere" [could not find evidence to support this vague statements]

USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/var/apache/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl?Buchloe+dactyloides (14 June 2004)

3.02

(1)listed as a "Common turfgrass weed pest" (2)listed on Southern Weed Science Society. 1998. Weeds of the United States and Canada. CD-ROM. Southern Weed Science Society. Champaign, Illinois. (3)NOT listed in Wester society of Weed Science handbook

(1)http://www.turf.uiuc.edu/teaching/NRES300/weed%20ID%20lab%20grass.htm (2)USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (3)WWS. 1991. Weeds of the west. University of Wyoming Press, Jackson, WY.

3.03

No evidence

3.04

No evidence

3.05

No evidence

4.01

No evidence of such structures.

4.02

(1)Not allelopathic (2)AB: Fourteen different phenolic acids were detected in water extracts of buffalograss clippings. Six of the 14 phenolic acids, including p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, gentisic acid, homoveratric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and vanillic acid, were examined for water and base extractable tissue concentration, and their effects on growth of seedlings of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides). The tissue phenolic acid concentrations were found to be significantly different among the three buffalograss varieties examined. The variety 'Prairie' had a higher total tissue phenolic acid concentration than the concentrations detected in the varieties 'UCHL-1' and 'NE609'. Seed germination was not affected by the six phenolic acids, but root growth of seedlings was severely inhibited. Seedling establishment was tested in buffalograss turf plots. No annual bluegrass became established in the buffalograss turf, and only 1% of buffalograss seedlings became established.

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (2)TI: Allelopathic effects of phenolic acids detected in buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) clippings on growth of annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and buffalograss seedlings
AU: Wu,-Lin [Reprint-author]; Guo,-Xun [Author]; Harivandi,-M-Ali [Author]
SO: Environmental-and-Experimental-Botany. 1998; 39(2): 159-167.
PY: 1998

4.03

No evidence

4.04

(1)Palatable Browse Animal- Medium. Palatable Graze Animal- High (2) Buffalo grass is one of the most important grasses on the short grass prairies. Both livestock and white-tailed deer, buffalo, pronghorns, jackrabbits and prairie dogs use it as forage. It was the main source of food for the buffalo when huge herds roamed the prairies.

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (2)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm

4.05

Toxicity: none

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA

4.06

Claviceps purpurea is a specialist pathogen attacking host plants of Poaceae. [broad range within Poaceae]

Alderman, S.C., Halse, R.R., and White, J.F. 2004. A reevaluation of the host range and geographical distribution of Claviceps species in the United States. Pl. Dis. 88:63-81

4.07

No evidence

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA

4.08

Buffalo grass has adapted to grassland fires and sometimes grows better after a fire. The actual growing parts of buffalo grass are protected from fire by soil. It sends out new shoots from the roots or bottom of the unburned stolon buds. Seeds are also protected from fire by the burs they are enclosed in.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm

4.09

(1)prefers partial shade or partial sun to full sun; (2) "It is not adapted to shaded sites." (3)The species will not survive in the shade; does not tolerate shading from taller species

(1)http://www.horticopia.com/hortpix/html/pc1090.htm (2) USDA, NRCS. 2004. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. (3)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm

4.1

(1) Adapted to Fine Textured Soils- Yes pH, Minimum 6.50, Adapted to Medium Textured Soils- Yes pH, Maximum 8, Anaerobic Tolerance High
[Adapted to Coarse Textured Soils: No] (2)buffalograss prefers clay soils of the bottom areas (3)The species will not survive in the shade, sandy or wet area, but it is salt tolerant (Pozarnsky, 1983).

(1) http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (2)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm (3)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm

4.11

A grass - not a climber

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA

4.12

No evidence

5.01

Terrestrial

http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/BU/Buchloe%20dactyloides.htm

5.02

Buffalo grass is a warm-season, native, perennial shortgrass. It grows between 2 and 5 inches (5-13 cm) tall and spreads out between six feet and 12 feet (3-4 m). It has a round hollow stem with gray, green curly leaves. The leaves are 1/10 " wide and 2" long.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm

5.03

Nitrogen fixation: none

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA

5.04

(1)Buffalo grass also reproduces through stolons. (2)It has both rhizomes and stolons [stolons- above ground runners].

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/buda.htm

6.01

Buffalograss is drought resistant and flowers from April to December under favorable conditions.

http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/buda.htm

6.02

Propagated by Seed

http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA

6.03

Monospecific genus

Mabberley, D.J. 1998. The plant book. Cambridge University Press

6.04

(1)Buffalo grass has both male and female plants. The flower stalks are 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) tall The female seed head of buffalo grass grow in clusters of three to five hairy spikelets. The tiny clusters of yellow to golden male flower of buffalo grass grow about 2 inches (6 cm) above the blades. (2)It has both rhizomes and stolons and seperate male and female plants. The male plant has flag-like seedheads rising above the leaves, while the female plant has seeds in a bur-like cluster in the leaves. (3)The species is unisexual, about half the plants being female and producing seed; and half male, the flowers of which produce only pollen. (4)AB: Three sex forms (dioecious, monoecious and hermaphrodite) were found in a buffalograss population. The ratio of female:male:monoecious was about 1:1:1. Monoecious plants and hermaphrodite flowers showed self-incompatibility. Cross-pollinated hermaphrodite flowers had about 50% seed set. A considerable variation in inflorescence height suggests that it has poten

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)It has both rhizomes and stolons and seperate male and female plants. The male plant has flag-like seedheads rising above the leaves, while the female plant has seeds in a bur-like cluster in the leaves. (3)http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Buffalograss.html (4)TI: OBSERVATIONS ON BUFFALOGRASS BUCHLOE-DACTYLOIDES SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS AND POTENTIAL FOR SEED PRODUCTION IMPROVEMENT
AU: WU-L [Reprint-author]; HARVINDI-A-H [Author]; GIBEAULT-V-A [Author]
SO: Hortscience-. 1984; 19(4): 505-506.
PY: 1984 (5)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm

6.05

grass - wind pollination syndrome

6.06

(1)Vegetative Spread Rate Rapid (2)Buffalo grass also reproduces through stolons. (3)It has both rhizomes and stolons [stolons- above ground runners].

(1)http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_attribute.cgi?symbol=BUDA (2)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (3)http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/buda.htm

6.07

(1)Perennial Life span 3 - 10 years (2)In favorable conditions, the stolons can cover a square foot of soil in one season. [presumed flowering in first year]

(1)http://www.crescentbloom.com/Plants/Specimen/BU/Buchloe%20dactyloides.htm (2)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm

7.01

Probably yes - (1)This burr-like cluster is the unit of seed dispersal. (2)The burs on buffalo grass seeds don't cling to animal fur for very long and the seeds fall close to the parent plant.

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://gemini.oscs.montana.edu/~mlavin/b434/lab7.htm

7.02

(1)Besides being found on the prairie, buffalo grass is used in meadows, and for turf grass. It's ornamental flowers can look pretty no matter where it grows. (2)Buffalo Grass is often used as a low maintenance lawn substitute.

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://www.bluestem.ca/buchloe-dactyloides.htm

7.03

Harvesting of fodder material

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://gemini.oscs.montana.edu/~mlavin/b434/lab7.htm

7.04

Probably not - no evidence that the propagules have adaptation for wind dispersal.

7.05

No evidence that the species inhabits waterways.

7.06

not mentioned as a food source for birds

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/bucdac/all.html

7.07

(1)This burr-like cluster is the unit of seed dispersal. (2)The burs on buffalo grass seeds don't cling to animal fur for very long and the seeds fall close to the parent plant.

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://gemini.oscs.montana.edu/~mlavin/b434/lab7.htm

7.08

gerimnation after consuption by cattle

Quinn, J. A., Mowrey, D. P., Emanuele, S. M. & Whalley, R. D. B. 1994. The "Foliage is the Fruit" hypothesis: Buchloe dactyloides (Poaceae) and the shortgrass prairie of North America. Am. J. Bot. 81(12):1545-1554.

8.01

Small and few inflorescences [photo]

http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/final/buda_female.jpg

8.02

can regenerate from dormant seeds

http://www.baileyseed.com/infonativegrasses.asp

8.03

(1)In field trials conducted at the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center in Manhattan during 1992 and 1993, postemergence herbicide treatments were applied to buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) seedlings having 1-3 leaves and 2-4 tillers, resp. The only herbicide treatments that did not cause plant injury at 1 or 2 weeks after treatment (WAT) or did not reduce turf coverage 4 or 6 WAT compared to the untreated control plots (in 1992 or 1993) were dithiopyr at 0.6 kg/ha, quinclorac at 0.8 kg, MSMA at 2.2 kg and clopyralid at 0.8 kg. Evaluated only in 1993, metsulfuron-methyl at 0.04 kg also caused no plant injury or reduction in coverage. Fenoxaprop-ethyl at 0.2 kg resulted in severe plant injury and reduced coverage by >95% at 6 WAT. Dicamba reduced coverage by 11% at 6 WAT in 1992 but not 1993. Triclopyr at 0.6 kg, 2,4-D at 0.8 kg, triclopyr + 2,4-D at 1.1 + 2.8 kg, 2,4-D + triclopyr + clopyralid at 3.1 + 0.3 + 0.2 kg and 2,4-D + mecoprop + dicamba at 2.0 + 1.1 + 0.2 kg resulted in plant injury at 1 or 2 WAT

(1)Fry, J. D. Upham, W. S. (1994) Buffalograss seedling tolerance to postemergence herbicides. HortScience, 1994, Vol. 29, No. 10, pp. 1156-1157, 5 ref. (2)McCarty, L.B.; Colvin, D.L. 1992. Buffalograss tolerance to postemergence herbicides.. HortScience v. 27 (8): p. 898-899 (3)http://www.lawncreations.com/labels/dimensionlabel.pdf

8.04

(1)Buffalo grass has adapted to grassland fires and sometimes grows better after a fire. The actual growing parts of buffalo grass are protected from fire by soil. It sends out new shoots from the roots or bottom of the unburned stolon buds. Seeds are also protected from fire by the burs they are enclosed in. (2)Hardiness: goes dormant after first few frosts (3)will withstand heavy grazing

(1)http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/buffalo_grass.htm (2)http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Buchloe_dactyloides.html (3)http://filebox.vt.edu/cals/cropsci/roadside.vegetation/nativeplantreview.htm

8.05

Don’t know


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER!


[ Return to PIER homepage ] [Risk assessment page]


This page new 14 February 2005