Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: nang ying cao

English: glenwood grass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Annuals or perennials, more or less weakly rhizomatous; culms tufted, decumbent, branching from base, 15-50 cm long, slender, glabrous.  Leaves usually near base of culm; sheaths glabrous, shorter than internodes; ligule membranous, 0.1-0.3 mm long; blades 3-10 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, glabrous.  Inflorescences 1.5-7 cm long, usually less than 5 mm in diameter, often tinged purple, peduncle slender, 10-23 cm long, often constituting more than " the height of the plant; spikelets pedicellate, strongly imbricate and concealing the rachis; first glume ovate, boat-shaped, 1.1-1.5 mm long, 5-nerved, second glume boat-shaped, 2.5-2.8 mm long, 7-nerved, apex blunt; first floret sterile, biconvex, 2.5-2.8 mm long, glumes striate, first lemma similar to glumes, saccate at base, 7-9-nerved, concealing a narrow, stiff palea ca. 1 mm long; second floret fertile, second lemma chartaceous, narrowly ovate, ca. 1.5 mm long, smooth, lustrous, nerves obscure, apex acute; palea nearly as long as lemma.  Caryopsis brown, ovoid, slightly compressed, ca. 1 mm long"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1589).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "Swamps and stagnant water, occurring in dense swards.  A weed of drainage channels and dams."  (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 81-82).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized and common in open, wet areas such as grasslands, crests of ridges, openings in wet forest, and along trails (15-) 150-1,700 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1589); "infests openings and trails in wet forests, displacing low-growing natives"  (Motooka et al., 2003).  In Fiji, "moderately common...from sea level to about 1,000 m. on open hillsides, sand and gravel banks in stream beds, in weedy thickets along roadsides and trails, and as a weed of cultivation and waste places"  (Smith, 1979; pp. 360-361). In New Caledonia, "sans valeur fourragère évidente. Maintenant répandu sur la Grande-Terre, bien intégré à la végétation naturelle en lieux humides, lisières de forêts et même à l'intérieur de forêts peu dégradées" (MacKee, 1994; p. 62).

Propagation:  Seed, commonly dispersed by sticking to animal fur. Seed and rhizome fragments also dispersed by water (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 81-82).

Native range:  Tropical Asia, Australia and into Polynesia.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1993) (voucher ID: PTBG 27463) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
Federated States of Micronesia Kosrae Island	Kosrae Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy (2010) (p. 10) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 57-58)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island	introduced invasive	Herrera, Katherine/Lorence, David H./Flynn, Timothy/Balick, Michael J. (2010) (p. 61) Voucher cited: N.S. Tangalin 1158 (PTBG) Naturalized
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Pohnpei Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1977) (voucher ID: BISH 432322) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 57-58)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 432323) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 360-361) Voucher cited: DA 5024
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	native	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 360-361) Vouchers cited: DA 10374, Smith 5645, DA 8636, DA 8660, Smith 8768, DA 9099, DA 7797, DA 8697, DA 9608, Smith 7009, DA 8475, DA 1172, DA 8602
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1955) (voucher ID: BISH 31605) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1939) (voucher ID: BISH 31606) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1947) (voucher ID: BISH 126731) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 699982) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1953) (voucher ID: BISH 699983) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
French Polynesia French Polynesia Islands	French Polynesia Islands	probably native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2003) (voucher ID: PTBG 40143) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: B. Toutain 4248 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2004) (voucher ID: PTBG 42487) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 343) Vouchers cited: BRY 26071, BRY 26505
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 106)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 3602 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 492167) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	native	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 343) Voucher cited: BRY 26537
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 106)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 2569 (PAP), J. Florence 8782 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1983) (voucher ID: BISH 607524) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1981) (voucher ID: PTBG 38275) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J. Florence 6241 (PAP), J. Florence 6389 (PAP), J. Florence 6582 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 493259) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 224) Voucher cited: Stone 4968-A (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 57-58)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1589)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1589)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Herbarium Pacificum Staff (1999) (p. 8) Voucher cited: C. Imada, H. Oppenheimer, J.S. Meidell & C. Gemmill 98-6 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1589) Voucher cited: Lyon s. n. (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1589)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1589)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381) Répandue sur la Grande-Terre, bien intégrée à la végétation naturelle en lieux humides, lisière de forêts et même à l'intérieur de forêt peu dégradées.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 62) Voucher cited: Guillaumin & Baumann 10198
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 652080) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1980) (voucher ID: PTBG 13099) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1983) (voucher ID: PTBG 39261) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 176)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 580) "Rough pasture".
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 57-58)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Space, James C./Lorence, David H./LaRosa, Anne Marie (2009) (p. 21) Voucher: Lorence 9836 (PTBG, BNM, NY)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1978) (voucher ID: BISH 432321) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1946) (voucher ID: BISH 589080) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1996) (voucher ID: BISH 689480) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3091) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (1981) (voucher ID: BNM 3104) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2008) (voucher ID: PTBG 130) Taxon name on voucher: Sacciolepis indica
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (pp. 57-58)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	native	Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 168) Throughout New Guinea from low altitudes to 8,000 ft., but most common from 5,000 to 6,000 ft.; grassland, abandoned gardens, roadsides.
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		Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (p. 68)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 64) Common in open wet grasslands at low and medium altitudes.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Savai‘i Island	probably native invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 71)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	probably native	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 56) Voucher cited: Whistler 2129
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island	probably native invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 68)

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)	New South Wales	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 346) On margins of paddy fields, in forests.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 580) "damp ground near roadsides".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 76) Weed of uncertain origin
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	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)

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	uncertain if native	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Naturalisé/±envahissant (indigène?)"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013)

Comments:  Should not be introduced where not native.

Control: 

Chemical: "Probably sensitive to glyphosate"  (Motooka et al., 2003).