Microstegium vimineum
Encyclopedia
Microstegium vimineum, commonly known as Japanese stiltgrass or Nepalese browntop, is an annual
grass that is common in a wide variety of habitats and is well adapted to low light levels.
, East Asia
as well as parts of Southeast Asia
. It can be found from Iran
in the west, east to China
and south to the Philippines
.
s shortly thereafter.
of Tennessee
around 1919 and is assumed to have entered from packing material used to ship porcelain from China
. Since that time it has become a highly aggressive invasive species
and is present in most of the eastern states, more than half of which it has been reported to be invasive. 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.
can take place more rapidly. Japanese stiltgrass cannot compete effectively in deep shade, however.
s targeted for crabgrass. Post emergent controls can also be successful, such as Calcium acid metanearsonate 8.4% Ortho "Weed-b-Gon" Crabgrass killer for lawns".
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
grass that is common in a wide variety of habitats and is well adapted to low light levels.
Geographic range
It is native in much of South AsiaSouth Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
as well as parts of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It can be found from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in the west, east to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and south to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
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 acheneAchene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
s shortly thereafter.
Invasive species
The plant was accidentally introduced into the U.S. stateU.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
around 1919 and is assumed to have entered from packing material used to ship porcelain from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Since that time it has become a highly aggressive invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
and is present in most of the eastern states, more than half of which it has been reported to be invasive. It is quite similar to and often grows along with the North American grass Leersia virginica
Leersia virginica
Leersia virginica, commonly known as whitegrass, white cutgrass, or Virginian cutgrass, is a perennial grass that is native to eastern North America, typically found in partially shaded low-lying wet areas....
, but L. virginica
Leersia virginica
Leersia virginica, commonly known as whitegrass, white cutgrass, or Virginian cutgrass, is a perennial grass that is native to eastern North America, typically found in partially shaded low-lying wet areas....
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
M. vimineum is capable of out-competing North American native species where it has been introduced. This problem is often exacerbated by the whitetail deer, which does not browse the grass, but instead prefers native species and thereby reduces competition for the exotic plant. Seeds remain viable for five years or more and have high germination rates. It is also a physiologically adaptive species, meaning it can survive low light levels if sufficient nutrients are present, while it can withstand infertile soils when light levels are high and photosynthesisPhotosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
can take place more rapidly. Japanese stiltgrass cannot compete effectively in deep shade, however.
Control
Microstegium vimineum is a warm season grass which can be controlled with pre-emergent herbicideHerbicide
Herbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
s targeted for crabgrass. Post emergent controls can also be successful, such as Calcium acid metanearsonate 8.4% Ortho "Weed-b-Gon" Crabgrass killer for lawns".
External links
- NPS Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas: Japanese Stilt Grass
- Maine Invasive Plants: Japanese Stilt Grass
- Species Profile- Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum), National Invasive Species Information Center, United States National Agricultural LibraryUnited States National Agricultural LibraryThe United States National Agricultural Library is one of the world's largest agricultural research libraries, and serves as a National Library of the United States and as the library of the United States Department of Agriculture...
. Lists general information and resources for Japanese Stilt Grass. - Invasive Plant Council of New York: Japanese Stiltgrass