Urochloa fusca B. F. Hansen & Wunderlin, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Brachiaria fasciculata (Sw.) Parodi; Panicum fasciculatum Sw.; Urochloa fasciculata (Sw.) R. D. Webster ex Morrone & Zuloaga

Common name(s): [more details]

English: brown-top signal grass, browntop panicum

Spanish: milha, milha roxa, súrbana, surbana

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Habit: Annual. Culms decumbent; 30-120 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 4-20(-30) cm long; 5-15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hispid; with tubercle-based hairs. Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous, or pubescent above. Racemes 3-20; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 1-8 cm long; secondarily branched; secondary branches racemulose. Central inflorescence axis 6-15 cm long. Rhachis wingless; angular; with scattered hairs and pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing irregular. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear. Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; compressed slightly; obtuse; 2.4-3 mm long; falling entire. Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; clasping; 0.25-0.33 times length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume obovate; 1 times length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins with cross-veins. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex obtuse. Florets: Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; obovate; 1 times length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; with cross-veins; glabrous; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2-2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate; without keels. Palea surface rugose"  (GrassBase).

"Annual grass.  The root is fibrous and the stem is pubescent, semi-decumbent, cylindrical and 40 to 70 centimeters tall.  The leaves are linear-lanceolate and 4 to 7 centimeters long.  The inflorescence is a panicle 6 to 10 centimeters long which has a golden to reddish appearance"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 39).

Habitat/ecology:  "Annual grass commonly found in cultivated fields, pastures and roadsides"  (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 39).

Propagation:  Seed (Cardenas et al., 1972; p. 39).

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

Presence:

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)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	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 Urochloa fusca, please let us know.