Urochloa glumaris (Trin.) Veldkamp, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Brachiaria paspaloides (Presl) Hubbard, Panicum ambiguum Trin., Urochloa paspaloides Presl

Common name(s): [more details]

English: common signalgrass, thurston grass

Tahitian: nanamu ti‘a rahi

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial, the culms creeping, slender, branched, 30-150 cm high, the nodes glabrous; leaf blades glabrous, 5-15 cm long, 2.5-10 mm broad; panicle 5-15 cm long, bearing 2-7 spikelike racemes, these spreading or reflexed; spikelets alike, solitary, falling entire, 2-flowered, the lower glume three-quarters length of spikelet"  (Smith, 1979; pp. 330-331).

"Stems slender, decumbent to sub-erect, tending to root at the lower nodes, mostly less than 30 cm tall.  Leaves pubescent, more or less tufted hairy at the sheath apex.  Leaf blades to ca. 20 cm long, often much less.  Inflorescence rachis pubescent.  Racemes 2-3 cm long, tending secund.  Spikelets 2.5-3 mm long, apiculate; outer glume nearly as long as rest of the spikelet"  (Sykes, 1970; p. 235).

Description from World Grass Species.

Habitat/ecology:  "In moist, sunny or shaded situations in lawns, plantations, upland rice, riverbanks and roadsides, 0-1200 m altitude" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998; pp. 51-62).  "A weed of moist localities" (Stone, 1970; p. 205). In Fiji, "commonly found at low elevations (usually below 15 m) along roadsides, in pastures, in waste places, in cultivated areas, near the seashore, and often forming mats on the dry mud of riverbanks." Apparently an early introduction into Fiji which has become naturalized and widespread. (Smith, 1979; pp. 330-331).  In Niue, "in waste, or at least disturbed, places near the coast, and probably it is present in many plantations" (Sykes, 1970; p. 235). In New Caledonia, "largement répandu" (MacKee, 1994; p. 57). "Occasional in disturbed places" (Whistler, 1988; p. 47).

Propagation:  "Seeds and root fragments dispersed externally by animals" (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998).

Native range:  Probably indigenous to tropical Asia (Sykes, 1970; p. 235).  "Probably an aboriginal introduction to Western Polynesia" (Whistler, 1988; p. 47).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Olosega Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Voucher cited: Whistler 3062
American Samoa Manu‘a Islands	Ta‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1990) Vouchers cited: Whistler 1384, Whistler 3331a
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 89)
American Samoa Tutuila Islands	Tutuila Island		Anon. (1988) (p. 3)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1975) (p. 13) Voucher cited: Fosberg 31639 (US, BISH, Fo) Rare
Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands	Nassau Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007) ?
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2007)
Federated States of Micronesia Pohnpei Islands	Kapingamarangi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Voucher cited: DA 9069
Fiji Fiji Islands	Taveuni Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Voucher cited: DA 8940
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Vouchers cited: Greenwood 593, Tothill s. n., DA 5700, U.S. Expl. Exped. 1840
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 330-331) Vouchers cited: DA 8547, DA 9797, Smith 4749, DA 8978, DA 7983, DA 9103, DA 7049, DA 7885, DA 1221, DA 3964, DA 1325, Degener & Ordonez 13516, DA 1195
French Polynesia Society Islands	Bora Bora Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Grant 4877
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Krauss 1655
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Voucher cited: Fosberg 64855
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island		Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 14) Vouchers cited: Raynal 17861, Fosberg 64855 (US), Fosberg & Sachet 64960 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Vouchers cited: Moore 74, Moore 99
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347) Vouchers cited: Grant 3995, Florence 3196
French Polynesia Tubuai (Austral) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 347)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 205) Vouchers cited: Stone 4103 (GUAM), Stone 4981 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largment répandue.
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Loyauté (Loyalty Islands)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57) Voucher cited: Vieillard 2351
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largment répandue.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 57)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 235) Vouchers cited: CHR 168781, CHR 168782
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 47)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. (1997) (p. 54) Voucher cited: Whistler 10879
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
Palau Palau (main island group)	Koror Island	native	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 51)
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. (2007)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Western Samoa Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1988) (p. 47)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 89)
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced invasive	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 52)
Tonga Ha‘apai Group	Ha‘apai Islands		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Voucher cited: Soakai 655
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Voucher cited: Soakai 985 (EI)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Vouchers cited: Moseley s.n., Soakai 926
Tonga Vava‘u Group	Vava‘u Island		Whistler, W. A. (1992) (p. 97) Vouchers cited: Crosby 186, Soakai 900

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. (2007)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	probably native	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 63, 76)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (pp. 52-53) As Brachiaria paspaloides (Presl) C.E. Hubb.

Additional information:  Additional online information about Urochloa glumaris is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Urochloa glumaris may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Anon. 1988. Weed list for American Samoa by cropping system. Checklist dated 07/13/88, origin unknown. 3 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1975. Vascular flora of the northern Marianas Islands. Smithsonian Contrib. Bot. 22:1-45.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. 1987. Flora of Maupiti, Society Islands. The Smithsonian Institution. Atoll Research Bulletin 294:1-70.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1987. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian monocotyledonae. Micronesica 20:1-126.

Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe. 1996. Conséquences des introductions d'espèces animales et végétales sur la biodiversité en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51:375-401.

Hafliger, Ernst/Scholz, Hildemar. 1980. Grass weeds, vol. 1. CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 142 pp. + plates.

Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. 1988. Flora of the Solomon Islands. Research Bulletin No. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara. 203 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

McCormack, Gerald. 2007. Cook Islands biodiversity and natural heritage. On-line database.

Smith, Albert C. 1979. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 1. 494 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

Swarbrick, John T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper no. 209. South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 pp.

Sykes, W. R. 1970. Contributions to the flora of Niue. New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin 200, Wellington. 321 pp.

Tassin, Jacques. 2005. Jacques Tassin (IAC-CIRAD), personal communication.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Waterhouse, B. M./Mitchell, A. A. 1998. Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy: weeds target list. Second edition. Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, Miscellaneous Publication No. 6/98. 110 pp.

Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture in Southeast Asia. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 141 pp.

Welsh, S. L. 1998. Flora Societensis: A summary revision of the flowering plants of the Society Islands. E.P.S. Inc., Orem, Utah. 420 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1988. Checklist of the weed flora of western Polynesia. Technical Paper No. 194, South Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 69 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1990. The weeds of Manu‘a [unpublished checklist]. 18 pp.

Whistler, W. A. 1992. Flora of Tonga [unpublished checklist]. 107 pp.

Whistler, W. A./Atherton, J. 1997. Botanical survey of the Huvalu Forest Conservation Area, Niue. Unpublished technical report. 76 pp.