Eustachys petraea (Sw.) Desv., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Chloris petraea Swartz

Common name(s): [more details]

English: pinewoods fingergrass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial, often developing stolons.  Culms 20-120 cm tall.  Ligule a short ciliate crown.  Blades flat or folded, mostly 8-20 cm long and 0.8-1.0 cm broad, obtuse at apex.  Panicles with 2-8 erect or erect-spreading branches 4-21 cm long.  Spikelets closely imbricated and widely divergent.  First glume lanceolate, 0.9-1.5 mm long, the second nearly linear, 1.1-1.7 mm long, short-awned from the obtusely lobed apex.  Lemma of perfect (lower) floret ovate-lanceolate, dark brown at maturity, 1.1-2.5 mm long, pilose on upper 1/2-3/4 with short hairs, awnless or mucronate.  Reduced floret cylindrical, truncate, 0.8-1.0 mm long, awnless or mucronate"  (Howard, 1979; p. 83).

Description from World Grass Species.

Habitat/ecology:  "Open, exposed site, most frequent on and near the seashore" (Howard, 1979; p. 83).

Propagation:  Seed, locally by stolons.

Native range:  "Southern United States, eastern Mexico and throughout the Antilles to Trinidad and northern South America" (Howard, 1979; p. 83).

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) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Vouchers cited: Fosberg & Moore 58248 (US, BISH, POM, K, MO, BRI), Raulerson 1584 (US), Herbst & Falanruw 6732 (US), Herbst & Falanruw 6690 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1975) (pp. 77-78) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 50547 (US), Fosberg 47715 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Voucher cited: Fosberg 59888 (US, BISH, BM, TI, BRI, NY)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Voucher cited: Fosberg 60307 (US, BISH, POM, MO)
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. (2000) (p. Voucher specimen) Specimen collected: BMW 5745 (BISH, BRI)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3236 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1980) (p. 202) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3236 (US)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1975) (pp. 77-78) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 1286 (US), Falanruw 956 (US)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	French Frigate Shoals	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1513, 1906) Adventive
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Abemama Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher specimen collected: Imada 2003-119 (BISH 697730)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher specimen collected: Imada 2003-62 (BISH 697677)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Maiana Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher specimen collected: Imada 2003-97 (BISH 697712)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Makin Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. (2004) (p. 10) Voucher specimen collected: Imada 2003-17 (BISH 697632)
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Tarawa Atoll	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Voucher cited: Raulerson 3644 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Bikini (Pikinni) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1988) (p. 11)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kili (Kõle) Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2006) (p. 4) "Common to abundant; major component of grassy fields, in ruderal areas, around houses".
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (pp. 85-86) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 48036, Fosberg 48047, Herbst 8888, Herbst 8958, Herbst 8968, Herbst 9005, Herbst 9626, Whistler 11231
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1975) (pp. 77-78) Vouchers cited: Fosberg 48036 (US), Fosberg 48047 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Wotho (Wõtto) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (pp. 85-86)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2007) (p. 3) "Abundant; major componant of lawns, some patches in ruderal areas".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 3200 (US), Fosberg 58812 (US)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 51)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1980) (p. 202) Vouchers cited: Falanruw 3200 (US), Fosberg 58812 (US)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Maloelap Atoll		Vander Velde, Nancy (year unknown)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 43)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, B. M (2003) (pp. 100-101) Voucher cited: Canfield 189 (US)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Angaur Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. (1980) (p. 202) Voucher cited: Canfield 189 (US)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Midway Atoll	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 1513, 1906) Adventive
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Wake Islands	Wake Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (pp. 85-86)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Costa Rica Costa Rica	Costa Rica (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Honduras Honduras	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Panama Panama	Panama (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Additional information:  Additional online information about Eustachys petraea is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Eustachys petraea may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Fosberg, F. R. 1988. Vegetation of Bikini Atoll. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Research Bulletin 315:1-28.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. 1975. Noteworthy Micronesian plants 1. Micronesica 11(1):77-80.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C. 1980. Noteworthy Micronesian plants 4. Micronesica 16(2):201-210.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1987. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian monocotyledonae. Micronesica 20:1-126.

Howard, Richard A. 1979. Flora of the Lesser Antilles: Leeward and Windward Islands. Vol. 3, Monocotyledoneae. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. 586 pp.

Space, James C./Imada, Clyde T. 2004. Report to the Republic of Kiribati on invasive plant species on the islands of Tarawa, Abemama, Butaritari and Maiana. Cont. no. 2003-006 to the Pac. Biol. Surv. USDA Forest Service and Bishop Museum, Honolulu. 103 pp.

Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Waguk, Erick E. 2000. Invasive plant species on Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia.  USDA Forest Service, Honolulu. 43 pp.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 0. Nancy Vander Velde, pers. com.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2006. Plants of Kili Island, Marshall Islands. Unpublished checklist. 12 pp.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2007. Arno plants [preliminary working listing of plant species]. Unpublished checklist, 13 pp.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Waterhouse, B. M. 2003. Know your enemy: recent records of potentially serious weeds in northern Australia, Papua New Guinea and Papua (Indonesia). Telopea 10(1):477-485.

Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. 1999. Botanical survey of the United States of America Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Islands. Prepared for Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education and the U. S. Army Environmental Center. 111 pp.