Themeda gigantea Hack, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Anthisiria gigantea Cav.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: ulla

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Tall, usually stout, spikes few in narrow pedicelled fascicles terminating the branches of a compound or decompound inclined or nodding rarely subsimple panicle, proper spathes rather longer than the spikes, involucr. spikelets linear-lanceolate, one of each pair deciduous, bisexual spikelets 1-3 rufously hirsute dorsally channeled."

"Stem 8-16 ft., often nearly 1 in. diameter below, erect, solid, terete, glabrous, simple below, branching above, leafy.  Leaves 4-8 ft. by 1/2 – 1 in., linear, setaceously acuminate, scaberulous above, glaucous beneath, margins scabridly serrulate, base narrowed, midrib road, lower bifarious; lower sheaths compressed; ligule short, membranous, ciliolate.  Panicle 1-3 ft., oblong, rarely simple, inclined, branchlets flexuous; spikes often pendulous; spathes narrowly cymbiform, keel and nerves scabrid.  Spikes as long as the proper spathes or shorter; peduncle much shorter than the spathe, filiform, erect or divaricate.  Invol. spikelets 1/3 – 2/3 in.; gl. I linear-lanceolate, setaceously acuminate, glabrous or hirsute with fulvous hairs, keels scabrid; II shorter, acuminate, ciliate; III and IV  sill shorter, linear-oblong or lanceolate, ciliate.  Bisexual spikelets 1/5 – 1/3 in., linear-lanceolate; callus 1/8 – 1/6 in., villous with long brown hairs; gl. I coriaceous, acute or acuminate, dorsally 1-3-channelled, more or less villously hirsute all over or below the middle with brown hairs; II acute in the awnless spikelets, obtuse in the awned; III oblong-lanceolate, 1-nerved; IV = III, linear-lanceolate in the awnless spikelets, acute, 1-nerved in the awned; IV the hyaline base of the awn"  (Hooker, 1897; pp. 216-217).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  "In the Philippines, "in open grasslands on dry steep slopes at low and medium altitudes" (Merrill, 1925; p. 50).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  India to China, Malaya, New Caledonia and Australia (Merrill, 1925; p. 50).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 50)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1983) (voucher ID: PTBG 37238) Taxon name on voucher: Themeda gigantea
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 50) In open grasslands on dry steep slopes at low and medium altitudes.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 185)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	native	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 114)

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	Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 50)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 50)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 361)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Themeda gigantea, please let us know.