Panicum trichoides Sw., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: fa zhi ji

English: masher grass, small-flower panic grass, ticklegrass, tropical panicgrass

Spanish: cohitrillo fino, echitrillo fino, flumilla, ilusión, parachurcada

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Annual grass.  The root is fibrous and the stem is decumbent, highly branched at the base, very thin and 30 to 50 centimeters tall.  The leaves are ovate-lanceolate, asymmetrical and the sheaths are longer than the internodes.  They are pubescent, 4 to 7 centimeters long and 8 to 15 millimeters wide.  The inflorescence is a diffuse panicle with capillary branches, 8 to 15 centimeters long.  In the vegetative stage it is sometimes mistaken for Commelina spp."  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 43).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "Annual grass commonly found in pastures and shaded perennial crops such as bananas"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 43).

Propagation:  Seed (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 43).

Native range:  Mexico, Central and South America (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 38)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
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)	introduced invasive	Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 38)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar (1980) (p. 38)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Panicum trichoides, please let us know.