Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudich., Cyperaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Fimbristylis miliacea auct.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: shui shi cao

English: fimbry, grass-like fimbristylis, lesser fimbristylis

Filipino: ubod-ubod

Japanese: hideriké

Palauan: kerngimes kederang

Pohnpeian: lingkerekenwel

Spanish: barba de fraile, barba de indio

Habit:  sedge

Description:  "Annual or occasionally apparently biennial, densely tufted, without rhizome; culms 10-50 cm tall, 1-5 mm broad below, flattened-4-sided with 2 sharp edges, smooth, glabrous, leaved at base; few upper leaves bladed, the lower leaves cataphylloid; blades laterally compressed, shorter than to surpassing culm, gradually narrowed to a long, acuminate apex, 1-4 mm broad at base, light green, soft; sheaths laterally flattened, greenish or the lower ones pale or tinged with rusty- or dusky-brown, obliquely truncate at orifice with membranous margins; corymbs ample, decompound, open, subdense to subloose with numerous spikelets, 3-8 cm long and broad; bracts 2-4, setaceous, 1/2 to 1/3 the length of rays, the dilated base with brown, membranous margins; rays 3-7, unequal, patent, 1-5 cm long, scabrid; spikelets solitary, ovoid-globular to globular, 1.5-5 mm long, 1.5-3 mm broad, rounded at both ends, rusty-brown, densely many-flowered; glumes patent, broadly ovate, 1-1.2 mm long, obtuse at apex, membranous, reddish brown, broadly white-hyaline on margins, the 3-nerved keel ending below apex; achenes broadly obovate, trigonous, 0.75-1 mm long, cream-yellow, cancellate with rows of fine, transversely oblong cells, usually sparsely verruculose; style slender, not fimbriate, about 0.7 mm long; stigmas 3, as long as style; anthers 0.6-0.7 mm long" (Smith, 1979; pp. 242-243).

Illustration by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) courtesy Ecoport.

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "presumably a naturalized adventive, locally abundant and often forming extensive stands in open swampy land or in standing water in drains.  It is frequent in rice fields, swampy cultivated areas, and wet pastures"  (Smith, 1979; pp. 242-243).  "Uncommon in wet places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 42).

Propagation:  Seed.  "[It] is eaten by cattle, the seeds passing through their digestive tracts mostly undigested and germinating near droppings"  (Holm et al., 1977; p. 277).

Native range:  "Tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres, extending in eastern Asia to north temperate areas of Japan and China" (Smith, 1979; pp. 242-243). Fosberg et al. (1987; p. 73) list as native in Micronesia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Saipan	Saipan Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Tol Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2005) (voucher ID: PTBG 44896) Taxon name on voucher: Fimbristylis littoralis
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Kapingamarangi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Glassman, S. F. (1952) (p. 123) Vouchers cited: Glassman 2413 (US), Kanehira 678 (BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 43) Vouchers cited: S. F. Glassman 2413 (BISH), R. Kanehira 678 (BISH), D.H. Lorence 9431 (PTBG), L. Stemmermann 2939 (BISH), M. Takamatsu 904 (PTBG), M. Takamatsu 1024 (PTBG), N.S. Tangalin 1159 (PTBG), N.S. Tangalin 1263 (PTBG)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1936) (voucher ID: PTBG 45148) Taxon name on voucher: Fimbristylis littoralis
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 242-243) Vouchers cited: DA 1582, Greenwood 584
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 242-243) Vouchers cited: DA 1492, Smith 9408, DA 9181 (McKee 2744A), DA 2848, DA 7879, DA 8398, DA 7635, Greenwood 329, DA 10572, DA 5939
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 317) as Fimbristylis miliacea Vahl, vouchers cited: Florence 2641, BRY 26314
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) As Fimbristylis miliacea Vahl, vouchers cited: J. Florence 2641 (PAP), J. Florence 2253 (PAP) Adventice
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 174) Voucher cited: Stone 4477 (GUAM), Moore 143, Rodin 765
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2000) (p. 12) Voucher cited: C. Imada 99-29 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Strong, Mark T./Wagner, Warren L. (1997) (pp. 45-46) Vouchers cited: Herbst 5952 (Bish, US), Flynn 1237 (BISH, PTBG, US), Flynn & Lorence 2183 (BISH, PTBG, US), Wagner & Lorence 5998 (BISH, US), Texeira s.n. (US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 11) East Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H110117 (BISH, PTBG)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1996) (voucher ID: BNM 26565) Taxon name on voucher: Fimbristylis littoralis Gaud.
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 72-73)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 49746) Taxon name on voucher: Fimbristylis littoralis
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)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 124) In open wet places; a characteristic rice-paddy weed.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 42) Not common.
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 42)

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)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Western Australia
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
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)	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Field margins, open slopes, muddy places near water, grasslands, paddy fields, paddy field margins; 100-2000 m. Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, S Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, SE Qinghai, S Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 314) As Fimbristylis miliacea (L.)Vahl. In paddy fields and other wet places.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 242-243)
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 43) Weed of uncertain origin
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	native	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Field margins, open slopes, muddy places near water, grasslands, paddy fields, paddy field margins; 100-2000 m.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 66, 77)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Recently established in Hawai‘i (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1899).

Control: 

Biological:  Waterhouse (1994, pp. 110-111) lists natural enemies of the species.