datasheet report for chloris gayana (rhodes grass
TRANSCRIPT
Invasive Species Compendium
Datasheet report for Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass)
Pictures
Picture Title Caption Copyright
HabitChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Habit. Coldstream, New South Wales,Australia. April 2012.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
HabitChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Habit. Gilgandra, New South Wales,Australia. May 2017.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
FlowerheadChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Flowerhead. Dungog, New South Wales,Australia. May 2018.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
CollarChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Collar. Dungog, New South Wales,Australia. May 2018.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
LiguleChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Ligule. Dungog, New South Wales,Australia. May 2018.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
NodeChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Node. Dungog, New South Wales,Australia. May 2018.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
SpikeletChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Spikelet. New South Wales, Australia.May 2012.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
SpikeletChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Spikelet. Austral Eden, New SouthWales, Australia. April 2012.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
SpikeletChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Spikelet. Austral Eden, New SouthWales, Australia. April 2012.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
Stem baseChloris gayana (Rhodes grass); Stem base. Austral Eden, New SouthWales, Australia. December 2004.
©Harry Rose/via Flickr -CC BY 2.0
Identity
Preferred Scientific NameChloris gayana
Preferred Common NameRhodes grass
Other Scientific NamesChloris abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich.Chloris glabrata AnderssonChloris repens Hochst.Eustachys gayana (Kunth) Mundy
International Common NamesEnglish: Abyssinian grass; hunyani grass; Rhodesgrass; Rhodesian blue grassSpanish: grama de Rodas; grama rhodes; pasto de Rodas; zacate conejo; zacate gorduraFrench: herbe de RhodesChinese: fei zhou hu wei caoPortuguese: capim-de-Rhodes
Local Common NamesItaly: Erba di RhodesJapan: AfurikahigeshibaPhilippines: banuko ; koro-korosanThailand: ya-rotVietnam: tucgiéâ
EPPO codeCHRGA (Chloris gayana)
Summary of Invasiveness
Chloris gayana is a robust, strongly stoloniferous grass native to Africa that has been extensively introduced as forage across tropical andsubtropical regions. Traits such as its ability to grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, its drought-resistance and its ability torapidly reproduce both by seeds and vegetatively have facilitated its escape from cultivation and subsequent naturalization. Onceestablished, C. gayana often grows to form almost pure stands that smother native species. Currently, this species is regarded as aninvasive in Australia, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Costa Rica, Cuba, Anguilla, New Caledonia, New Zealand and Hawaii. It is alsoincluded in the Global Compendium of Weeds.
Taxonomic Tree
Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Spermatophyta Subphylum: Angiospermae Class: Monocotyledonae Order: Cyperales Family: Poaceae Genus: Chloris Species: Chloris gayana
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Poaceae is a species-diverse family in the Angiosperms, comprising 707 genera and 11,337 species widely distributed in all regions of theworld. The subfamily Chloridoideae includes 130 genera and about 1721 species, most abundant in dry, tropical and subtropical regions. Allspecies within this family use the C photosynthesis pathway. Chloris is a tropical to subtropical genus of 55-60 species. Species within thisgenus can tolerate drought and high saline conditions (Barkworth, 2003, Stevens, 2017). There are many cultivars of Chloris gayana,differing in habit, plant height, lemma pubescence and awn length (FAO, 2014; Flora of China, 2020).
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Description
The following description is from Flora of China (2020):
Perennial, stoloniferous grass. Culms erect or ascending, usually rooting at lower nodes, ± flattened, hard, 1–1.5(–2) m tall. Leaf sheathsglabrous except mouth; leaf blades flat, 15–35 cm, 2–10 mm wide, scabrous, apex acuminate; ligule ca. 0.5 mm, with long hairs behind.Racemes digitate, 5–20, ascending to spreading, 4–11 cm, greenish brown; rachis scabrous. Spikelets with 3 or 4 florets, 2-awned; lowerglume 1.5–2.5 mm; upper glume 2.5–4 mm including awn-point; lemma of fertile floret elliptic to oblanceolate in side view, 2.5–3.5 mm,shortly appressed-sericeous on lower margins, usually a tuft of hairs 0.5–1.5 mm on upper margins, keel glabrous or sparsely to denselysericeous; awn 2–6 mm; second floret usually male, narrowly lanceolate or cuneate, lemma ciliate on margins, body and awn a little shorterthan fertile floret; third (and fourth) florets reduced to oblong or clavate awnless scales, less than 1 mm.
Plant Type
Grass / sedge Perennial Seed propagated Vegetatively propagated
Distribution
Chloris gayana is native to East and Central Africa and the eastern part of West Africa. It has been introduced throughout the tropics andsubtropics and now it can be found naturalized in regions across Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Australia, Italy,Spain, China, Japan, India, southern Asia, and the Pacific region (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012; Clayton et al., 2020; Flora ofChina, 2020; PIER, 2018; USDA-ARS, 2020; Weeds of Australia, 2020).
Distribution Table
The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflictinginformation on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can beselected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 11 Mar 2021
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Africa
Algeria Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Angola Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Benin Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Botswana Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Burundi Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Cabo Verde Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Cameroon Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Central African Republic Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Chad Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Côte d'Ivoire Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Djibouti Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Egypt Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Eritrea Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Eswatini Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Ethiopia Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Gambia Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Ghana Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Guinea Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Guinea-Bissau Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Kenya Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Cultivated
Lesotho Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Madagascar Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Malawi Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Mali Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Mauritania Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Mauritius Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
-Rodrigues Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Morocco Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Mozambique Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Namibia Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Niger Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Nigeria Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Réunion Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Rwanda Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Senegal Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Seychelles Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Somalia Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
South Africa Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Cultivated
Sudan Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Tanzania Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Cultivated
Tunisia Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Uganda Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Zambia Present Native
Clayton et al.(2020); USDA-ARS (2020)
Zimbabwe Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Cultivated
Asia
Bahrain Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Bangladesh Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
China Present Introduced
Flora of ChinaEditorialCommittee(2020)
Across warmregions
Georgia Present IntroducedUSDA-ARS(2020) Cultivated
India Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
-Andaman and NicobarIslands
Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Iraq Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Japan Present IntroducedUSDA-ARS(2020) Cultivated
Lebanon Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Malaysia Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Myanmar Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
North Korea Present IntroducedUSDA-ARS(2020) Cultivated
Oman Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
Pakistan Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Palestine Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Philippines Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Saudi Arabia Present NativeClayton et al.(2020)
South Korea Present IntroducedUSDA-ARS(2020) Cultivated
Sri Lanka Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Thailand Present IntroducedUSDA-ARS(2020) Cultivated
Europe
Italy Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020) Sardinia
Portugal Present NativeUSDA-ARS(2020)
Present inMadeira only
-Madeira Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Spain Present Introduced InvasiveDana et al.(2004)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
-Canary Islands Present Native
USDA-ARS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
North America
Anguilla Present Introduced Invasive Connor (2008)
Bahamas Present Introduced
Acevedo-Rodríguez andStrong (2012)
Costa Rica Present Introduced Invasive
Chacón andSaborío(2012)
Cuba Present Introduced Invasive
Oviedo Prietoand González-Oliva (2015)
Dominican Republic Present Introduced
Acevedo-Rodríguez andStrong (2012)
El Salvador Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Guatemala Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Haiti Present Introduced
Acevedo-Rodríguez andStrong (2012)
Honduras Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Jamaica Present Introduced
Acevedo-Rodríguez andStrong (2012)
Mexico Present Introduced InvasiveCerros-Tlatilpaet al. (2015)
Nicaragua Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
U.S. Virgin Islands Present Introduced
Acevedo-Rodríguez andStrong (2012)
St Croix
United States Present Introduced Invasive
USDA-NRCS(2020);Clayton et al.(2020)
Reported asinvasive inFlorida andHawaii
-Arizona Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-California Present Introduced InvasiveUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Florida Present IntroducedOverholt andFranck (2017)
-Hawaii Present Introduced Invasive PIER (2018)
-Illinois Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Louisiana Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Maine Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Maryland Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Massachusetts Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Mississippi Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-North Carolina Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Texas Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
-Virginia Present IntroducedUSDA-NRCS(2020)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Oceania
Australia Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020); Mills etal. (2001)
-Lord Howe Island Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
-New South Wales Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020); Mills etal. (2001)
-Northern Territory Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
-Queensland Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020); Mills etal. (2001)
-South Australia Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
-Tasmania Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
-Victoria Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
-Western Australia Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
Cook Islands Present Introduced PIER (2018)
Fiji Present Introduced PIER (2018)
Guam Present Introduced PIER (2018)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
New Caledonia Present Introduced InvasiveMacKee(1994)
New Zealand Present Introduced InvasiveEdgar andConnor (2000)
Offshoreislands
Niue Present Introduced PIER (2018)
Norfolk Island Present Introduced Invasive
Weeds ofAustralia(2020)
Papua New Guinea Present Introduced PIER (2018)
Solomon Islands Present Introduced PIER (2018)
South America
Argentina Present Introduced Invasive IABIN (2008)
Bolivia Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Brazil Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
-Mato Grosso do Sul Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
-Minas Gerais Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
-Pernambuco Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
-Rio Grande do Sul Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
-Sao Paulo Present Introduced NaturalizedFilgueiras andValls (2015)
Chile Present Introduced
Molina andRúgolo deAgrasar(2004)
Continent/Country/Region Distribution LastReported Origin First
Reported Invasive Reference Notes
Colombia Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Ecuador Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Paraguay Present Introduced Invasive IABIN (2008)
Peru Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Suriname Present IntroducedPeterson et al.(2001)
Uruguay Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
Venezuela Present IntroducedClayton et al.(2020)
History of Introduction and Spread
Chloris gayana is a popular forage grass that was first cultivated in South Africa, and was introduced to a wide range of tropical andsubtropical regions at the beginning of the 20 century (Mannetje and Jones, 1992). It was first introduced to the United States in 1903(Vendramini et al., 2000).
th
Risk of Introduction
The risk of new introductions of Chloris gayana is very high. This grass species is one of the most popular grasses for rotation grasslands intropical and subtropical areas. In addition, it has capability to spread both vegetatively and by seeds. Seeds are easily dispersed by windand water and as a seed contaminant. Therefore, it is likely that new introductions and naturalizations will occur (Cook et al., 2005; FAO,2014; Weeds of Australia, 2020).
Habitat
Chloris gayana can be found growing in open woodland and grassland, disturbed areas, savannas, riverine and lake margins andseasonally waterlogged plains. It is a weed of roadsides, railways, parks, gardens, orchards, vineyards and cultivated lands such asplantation crops and sown pastures (Wagner et al., 1999; Cook et al., 2005; Heuzé et al., 2016; Flora of China, 2020; Weeds of Australia,2020)
Habitat List
Category Sub-Category Habitat Presence Status
Terrestrial Managed Cultivated / agricultural landPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial Managed Cultivated / agricultural landPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
Terrestrial Managed Cultivated / agricultural landPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Terrestrial ManagedManaged forests, plantations andorchards
Present, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial ManagedManaged forests, plantations andorchards
Present, no furtherdetails
Natural
Terrestrial ManagedManaged forests, plantations andorchards
Present, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Terrestrial Managed Managed grasslands (grazing systems)Present, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial Managed Managed grasslands (grazing systems)Present, no furtherdetails
Natural
Terrestrial Managed Managed grasslands (grazing systems)Present, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Terrestrial Managed Disturbed areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial Managed Disturbed areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
Terrestrial Managed Disturbed areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Terrestrial Managed Rail / roadsidesPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial Managed Rail / roadsidesPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
Terrestrial Managed Rail / roadsidesPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Terrestrial Managed Urban / peri-urban areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
Terrestrial Managed Urban / peri-urban areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
Category Sub-Category Habitat Presence Status
Terrestrial Managed Urban / peri-urban areasPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Natural forestsPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Natural forestsPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Natural grasslandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Natural grasslandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Natural grasslandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
RiverbanksPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
RiverbanksPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
RiverbanksPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Scrub / shrublandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Harmful (pest orinvasive)
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Scrub / shrublandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Natural
TerrestrialNatural / Semi-natural
Scrub / shrublandsPresent, no furtherdetails
Productive/non-natural
Biology and Ecology
Genetics
The chromosome number reported for C. gayana is 2n = 20 (Flora of China, 2020).
Physiology and Phenology
Seeds of C. gayana germinate quickly (1-7 days) and seedlings establish rapidly. The seedlings grow and branch rapidly. Widely scatteredseedlings can quickly produce dense stands. In tropical areas, C. gayana produces flowers throughout the year and the caryopsis is fullyripe 23-25 days after flowering (Mannetje and Jones, 1992; Cook et al., 2005).
Longevity and Activity Patterns
Chloris gayana is a perennial grass usually growing 0.4-1.6 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 2 m in height. It forms small clumps witherect culms and also produces stoloniferous stems (Cook et al., 2005; Heuzé et al., 2016; Weeds of Australia, 2020).
Environmental Requirements
Chloris gayana grows in tropical and subtropical regions at elevations from near sea level up to 2000 m. It can also grow in dry and semi-arid regions. It grows best in areas with mean annual temperatures ranging from 16 to 37ºC, with a minimum tolerated temperature of 5º anda maximum of 50ºC. It prefers a mean annual rainfall ranging from 700 mm to 1,500 mm but tolerates <500 mm to 4000mm. It can grow ona wide range of soils, including sandy soils, loams and clays. It grows best in well-drained soils with pH between about 5.5 and 7.5 (buttolerates pH 4.5 and up to 10). This species does not tolerate soils with high manganese and has poor shade tolerance, but it toleratessaline soils and can be irrigated with water that may be too saline for other species. Chloris gayana has a root system that can extract waterto a depth of >4 m. Therefore, its drought tolerance is high and it can survive in areas with a 6-month dry season. It also tolerates seasonalwaterlogging and plants can survive flooding for up to 15 days (Mannetje and Jones, 1992; Cook et al., 2005; Heuzé et al., 2016).
Climate
Climate Status Description Remark
Af - Tropical rainforest climate Preferred > 60mm precipitation per month
Am - Tropical monsoon climate PreferredTropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 -[total annual precipitation(mm}/25]))
As - Tropical savanna climatewith dry summer
Preferred< 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annualprecipitation{mm}/25])
Aw - Tropical wet and drysavanna climate
Preferred< 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annualprecipitation{mm}/25])
BS - Steppe climate Tolerated > 430mm and < 860mm annual precipitation
Cs - Warm temperate climatewith dry summer
Tolerated Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers
Cw - Warm temperate climatewith dry winter
ToleratedWarm temperate climate with dry winter (Warm average temp. > 10°C, Coldaverage temp. > 0°C, dry winters)
Cf - Warm temperate climate,wet all year
Tolerated Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year
Latitude/Altitude Ranges
Latitude North (°N) Latitude South (°S) Altitude Lower (m) Altitude Upper (m)
45 40
Air Temperature
Parameter Lower limit Upper limit
Absolute minimum temperature (ºC) 0
Mean annual temperature (ºC) 16 37
Mean minimum temperature of coldest month (ºC) 5
Rainfall
Parameter Lower limit Upper limit Description
Dry season duration 6 number of consecutive months with <40 mm rainfall
Mean annual rainfall 500 1700 mm; lower/upper limits
Rainfall Regime
Bimodal Summer UniformWinter
Soil Tolerances
Soil drainagefreeseasonally waterlogged
Soil reactionacidalkalineneutral
Soil textureheavylightmedium
Special soil tolerancesinfertilesaline
Notes on Natural Enemies
Chloris gayana is affected by Chloris striate mosaic virus and by fungi species such as Helminthosporium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Cerebellaandropogonis, Cladosporium sp., Claviceps sp., Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Fusarium spp. and Uromyces kenyensis (Cook et al., 2005).
Insect pests include fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), larvae of Mocis latipes, the lesser corn-stalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus),rhodes grass mealybug (Antonina graminis), and the two-lined spittle bug (Prosapia bicincta) (Cook et al., 2005).
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Chloris gayana spreads by seed and also vegetatively via stolons. The seeds are dispersed by wind and water, and may also becomeattached to clothing, animals, vehicles and machinery. Seeds can also be dispersed as a contaminant in agricultural produce (e.g. pastureseed). Plants can spread laterally and colonize nearby areas via their stolons (Cook et al., 2005; Heuzé et al., 2016; Weeds of Australia,2020).
Pathway Causes
Cause Notes LongDistance Local References
Crop production Forage for pasture and hay Yes YesCook et al.(2005)
DisturbanceOften escaped from cultivation and naturalized in disturbed sites,open grasslands, and along roadsides
Yes YesWeeds ofAustralia(2020)
Escape from confinementor garden escape
Often escaped from cultivation: seeds, stem fragments, seeds ascontaminants
Yes YesWeeds ofAustralia(2020)
Forage Forage, pasture, hay Yes YesCook et al.(2005)
Habitat restoration andimprovement
To control soil erosion and improve soils Yes YesCook et al.(2005)
Hitchhiker Seeds as contaminants (pasture seeds) Yes YesWeeds ofAustralia(2020)
Intentional release One of the most popular grasses for rotation pastures Yes Yes FAO (2014)
Internet sales Seeds sold online Yes Yes
Pathway Vectors
Vector Notes LongDistance Local References
Clothing, footwear and possessions Seeds attached to clothingWeeds of Australia(2020)
Debris and waste associated with humanactivities
Seeds as contaminants Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Machinery and equipmentSeeds attached to vehicles andmachinery
Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
LivestockSeeds may be spread by animals andcattle
Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Soil, sand and gravel Seeds as contaminants Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Land vehiclesSeeds attached to vehicles andmachinery
Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Water Seeds Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Wind Seeds Yes YesWeeds of Australia(2020)
Impact Summary
Category Impact
Economic/livelihood Positive and negative
Environment (generally) Positive and negative
Environmental Impact
Chloris gayana is listed as an invasive species and an environmental weed in Australia, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica,Cuba, Anguilla, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Hawaii. It has been listed among the top 50 invasive plants in Queensland, Australia,where it spreads from roadsides and pastures to invade native bushland and rainforest margins. Once established, this species growsforming almost pure stands that smother native vegetation (Wagner et al., 1999; Dana et al., 2004; Connor, 2008; IABIN, 2008; Chacón andSaborio, 2012; Oviedo and Gonzalez-Oliva, 2015; Randall, 2017; PIER, 2018; Weeds of Australia, 2020).
Risk and Impact Factors
InvasivenessProved invasive outside its native rangeHas a broad native rangeAbundant in its native rangeHighly adaptable to different environmentsIs a habitat generalistTolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etcPioneering in disturbed areasBenefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)Long livedFast growingGregariousReproduces asexually
Impact outcomesEcosystem change/ habitat alterationMonoculture formationNegatively impacts agricultureReduced native biodiversityThreat to/ loss of native species
Impact mechanismsCompetition - monopolizing resourcesCompetition - smotheringRapid growthRooting
Likelihood of entry/controlHighly likely to be transported internationally accidentallyHighly likely to be transported internationally deliberatelyDifficult to identify/detect as a commodity contaminantDifficult to identify/detect in the fieldDifficult/costly to control
Uses
Chloris gayana is used in pastures for grazing, hay and silage making. It is also used to restore soil structure, improve organic matterlevels, and reduce nematodes before horticultural crops are sown (Mannetje and Jones, 1992; Cook et al., 2005; FAO, 2014).
Uses List
Animal feed, fodder, forageFodder/animal feedForage
EnvironmentalErosion control or dune stabilizationSoil conservationSoil improvement
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Chloris gayana can be confused with Chloris barbata and Chloris virgata. These three species can be distinguished by the following traits(Flora of China, 2020; Weeds of Australia, 2020):
Chloris gayana: flower spikelets have one small and one very small awn (both usually less than 6 mm long) and are not very hairy. Culms 1–3 m, stoloniferous.
Chloris barbata: flower spikelets have three relatively small awns (all less than 7 mm long) and are hairy towards their tips. Sterile lemmasinflated; the lower 1–1.5 mm, nearly as long as wide.
Chloris virgata: flower spikelets have two relatively large awns (5-15 mm long) and are hairy towards their tips. Lowest lemma withspreading 2.5–4 mm hairs on upper margins.
Prevention and Control
Manual and chemical control can be used to manage C. gayana. Larger clumps may require digging out with a mattock. Glyphosate hasbeen found to be effective at controling C. gayana, but the plants must be at the early head stage (Queensland Government, 2020).
References
Acevedo-Rodríguez, P., Strong, M. T., 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies, Washington, DC, USA: SmithsonianInstitution.1192 pp. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Barkworth ME, 2003. Chloris Sw. In: Flora of North America vol. 24. [ed. by Barkworth ME, Capels KM, Long S, Anderton LK, Piep MB].http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/
Chacón, E., Saborío, G., 2012. Interamerican network of information on invasive species, Costa Rica. (Red Interamericana de Informaciónde Especies Invasoras, Costa Rica). In: Red Interamericana de Información de Especies Invasoras, Costa Rica . San José, Costa Rica:Asociación para la Conservación y el Estudio de la Biodiversidad.http://invasoras.acebio.org
Clayton, WD, Govaerts, R, Harman, KT, Williamson, H, Vorontsova, M, 2020. World Checklist of Poaceae. London, UK: Royal BotanicGardens Kew.http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Connor, RA, 2008. Anguilla Invasive Species Strategy (draft).http://www.gov.ai/documents/Anguilla%20Invasive%20Species%20Strategy%202008%20(2).pdf
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References
Distribution References
Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong M T, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Washington, DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution.1192 pp. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Cerros-Tlatilpa R, Siqueiros Delgado M E, Skendzic E M, 2015. The genus Chloris Sw. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in Mexico. (El géneroChloris Sw. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) en México.). Acta Botanica Mexicana. 95-147. DOI:10.21829/abm112.2015.1091
Chacón E, Saborío G, 2012. Interamerican network of information on invasive species, Costa Rica. (Red Interamericana de Información deEspecies Invasoras, Costa Rica.). In: Red Interamericana de Información de Especies Invasoras, Costa Rica. San José, Costa Rica:Asociación para la Conservación y el Estudio de la Biodiversidad. http://invasoras.acebio.org
Clayton WD, Govaerts R, Harman KT, Williamson H, Vorontsova M, 2020. World Checklist of Poaceae., London, UK: Royal BotanicGardens Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
Connor RA, 2008. Anguilla Invasive Species Strategy (draft).,http://www.gov.ai/documents/Anguilla%20Invasive%20Species%20Strategy%202008%20(2).pdf
Dana E D, Sanz-Elorza M, Sobrino E, 2004. Plant invaders in Spain (check-list), 'the unwanted citizens'. In: Plant invaders in Spain (check-list), 'the unwanted citizens', http://www.ual.es/personal/edana/alienplants/checklist.pdf
Edgar E, Connor H E, 2000. Flora of New Zealand - Vol. V: Gramineae. Lincoln, New Zealand: Manaaki Whenua Press. lxxxii + 650 pp.
Filgueiras TS, Valls JFM, 2015. Chloris gayana. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro.http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/floradobrasil/FB111605
Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2020. Flora of China. In: Flora of China, St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA:Missouri Botanical Garden and Harvard University Herbaria. http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2
IABIN, 2008. [English title not available]. (Paraguay. Red interamericana de Informacion sobre Biodiversidad Red de Informacion sobreEspecies Invasoras (I3N)).,
MacKee H S, 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Paris, France: Muséum National d'HistoireNaturelle. unpaginated.
Mills L, Leaman T M, Taghavi S M, Shackel L, Dominiak B C, Taylor P W J, Fegan M, Teakle D S, 2001. Leifsonia xyli-like bacteria areendophytes of grasses in eastern Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 30 (2), 145-151. DOI:10.1071/AP01003
Molina A M, Rúgolo de Agrasar Z E R, 2004. Taxonomic revision the species of the genus Chloris (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) in SouthAmerica. (Revisión taxonómica de las especies del género Chloris (Poaceae: Chloridoideae) en Sudamérica.). Candollea. 59 (2), 347-428.
Overholt W A, Franck A R, 2017. The invasive legacy of forage grass introductions into Florida. Natural Areas Journal. 37 (2), 254-264.DOI:10.3375/043.037.0214
Oviedo Prieto R, González-Oliva L, 2015. National list of invasive and potentially invasive plants in the Republic of Cuba - 2015. (Listanacional de plantas invasoras y potencialmente invasoras en la República de Cuba - 2015). Bissea: Boletín sobre Conservación de Plantasdel Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba. 9 (Special Issue No. 2), 1-88.http://repositorio.geotech.cu/jspui/bitstream/1234/1476/4/Lista%20nacional%20de%20plantas%20invasoras%20de%20Cuba-2015.pdf
Peterson P M, Soreng R J, Davidse G, Filgueiras T S, Zuloaga F O, Judziewicz E J, 2001. Contributions from the United States NationalHerbarium, Washington, USA: Department of Botany, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. 41, 255 pp.
PIER, 2018. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. In: Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii.http://www.hear.org/pier/index.html
USDA-ARS, 2020. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. In: Germplasm Resources Information Network(GRIN). Online Database, Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx
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Contributors
11/02/20 Original text by:
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval, Department of Botany-Smithsonian NMNH, Washington DC, USA
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - World
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - Africa
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - Asia
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - Europe
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - Pacific
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - North America
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - Central America
Date of report: 08 September, 2021
CABI, 2021. Chloris gayana. In: Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CAB International. https://www.cabi.org/isc
CABI Summary Data
Map Legends - South America