Leptochloa virgata (L.) P.Beauv., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Judd's grass, tropical sprangletop

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Habit: Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40-110 cm long; 2-3 mm diameter. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3-0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades 10-26 cm long; 7-10 mm wide. Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 5-28 cm long. Racemes 5-20; borne along a central axis; flexuous; unilateral; 7-11 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 10-22 cm long. Rhachis semiterete. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous; regular; 2 -rowed. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets comprising 3-5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.5-3.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 1.2-1.6 mm long; 0.66 times length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8-2.3 mm long; 1 times length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute. Florets: Fertile lemma ovate; 1.8-2.2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy above. Lemma apex emarginate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0-2.2 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Flower: Anthers 2; 0.2-0.3 mm long.  Caryopsis with free soft pericarp"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

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

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1558) Voucher cited: Forbes 1725.O (BISH)

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)	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 Leptochloa virgata, please let us know.