Polytrias indica (Houtt.) Veldkamp, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Andropogon amaurus Büse; Polytrias amaura (Büse) Kuntze; Polytrias diversiflora (Steud.) Nash; Polytrias praemorsa (Nees) Hack.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: dan xu cao

English: Java grass, Natewa blue grass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial grass branching from the base.  Culms erect to ascending, up to 40 cm or more in length, glabrous, rooting at the glabrous nodes.  Leaf sheath glabrous to finely pubescent; ligule a fimbriate membrane ca. 0.3-0.4 mm long.  Leaf blade linear, mostly 1.2-7 cm long, 1.5-3 mm wide, surfaces pilose, especially near the base; margins scabrous.  Inflorescence a narrow raceme 3.5-7 cm long, with spikelets in 3s, 2 sessile, and 1 stalked, rachis brown-hairy on the margins.  Spikelets laceolate 2.8-3.5 mm long, brown.  Glumes as long as the spikelet, 2- or 3-grooved or nerved, setose.  Lower lemma absent, upper less than half as long as the spikelet, bearing a twisted, bent, pubescent awn 6-10 mm long.  Distinguishable by its creeping grass habit, hairy leaf surfaces, small erect, narrow brown racemes with spikelets in 3s (two sessile and one stalked), and bent, twisted awn borne on the glume"  (Whistler & Steele, 1999; p. 88).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  In Fiji, "roadsides and plantations... It is becoming moderately common from sea leavel to about 30 m. It is reported to be a useful lawn grass" (Smith, 1979; p. 368). In Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, "scattered patches in lawns" (Whistler & Steele, 1999; p. 88).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southeastern Asia (Smith, 1979; p. 368).

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	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 11)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	native	Raulerson, L. (2006) (p. 11)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 368) Vouchers cited: DA 11905, Vouchers cited: DA 8784, CA 8323, DA 8469, DA 11906
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (p. 368) Vouchers cited: DA 8784, DA 8323, DA 8469
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 237)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Moore 287
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 88) Voucher cited: Whistler 11223
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 56)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 56)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 345) On stony slopes.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (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)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Polytrias indica, please let us know.