Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Tribe Andropogoneae Scientific name Microstegium vimineum Rank Species | Order Poales Subfamily Panicoideae Genus Microstegium Higher classification Microstegium | |
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Similar Microstegium, Grasses, Cynanchum louiseae, Celastrus orbiculatus, Lonicera morrowii | ||
Microstegium vimineum, commonly known as Japanese stiltgrass, packing grass, or Nepalese browntop, is an annual grass that is common in a wide variety of habitats and is well adapted to low light levels.
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Geographic range
It is native in much of South Asia, East Asia as well as parts of Southeast Asia. It can be found from Iran in the west, east to China, south to the Philippines, and has since moved to the United States.
Description
It typically grows to heights between 40 and 100 cm (1.3 and 3.3 ft) and is capable of rooting at each node. The plant flowers in late summer and produces its seeds in the form of a caryopsis shortly thereafter. It is quite similar to and often grows along with the North American grass Leersia virginica, but L. virginica lacks the distinctive silver stripe on the center of the leaf that is present on Japanese stiltgrass and also flowers one to two months earlier.
Ecology as an invasive species
The plant was accidentally introduced into the U.S. state of Tennessee around 1919 as a result of being used as a packing material in shipments of porcelain from China. It has spread throughout the Southeastern US and is now found in 26 states. Microstegium viminium most commonly invades along roads, floodplain and other disturbed areas, but will also invade undisturbed habitats. Whitetail deer, which do not browse the grass, may facilitate spread by browsing on native species and thereby reducing competition for the exotic plant. Grazing herbivores, such as cattle, will avidly graze this C4 warm season grass. Invasion of Microstegium can reduce growth and flowering of native species, suppress native plant communities, alter and suppress insect communities, slow plant succession and alter nutrient cycling. However, removal of Microstegium can lead to recovery of native plant communities.
Control
Microstegium vimineum can be controlled with pre-emergent herbicides targeted for crabgrass. Post emergent controls can also be successful, such as Calcium acid methanearsonate 8.4% Ortho "Weed-b-Gon" Crabgrass killer for lawns, which contains 2,4-D, and Acclaim Extra as well. Unless noted, surfactants should be added to herbicides for better control. Glyphosate has been found to be effective in controlling Microstegium vimineum by using as little as a half-percent of the concentrate in water. This method is ideal for spraying over the top of desirable plants and seems to only negatively affect the M. vimineum. In addition to herbicides, hand weeding and mowing are among the most successful methods of removal. In order to be effective, mowing must be performed before the plants go to seed.