Identification and Control of Upland Grasses

Transcription

1 Identification and Control of Upland Grasses Candice M. Prince, Gregory E. MacDonald The University of Florida

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3 Identifying Features of Grasses: Photo: Candice Prince Photo: Jose V. Fernandez

4 Classifications: Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC): Category I: alter native plant communities through various mechanisms Category II: have increased in abundance or frequency

5 Classifications: UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida s Natural Areas: Not a problem species Caution manage to prevent escape Invasive and not recommended except in specific cases Invasive and not recommended

6 Management: Prevention Cultural Mechanical Integrated Management Biological Chemical

7 Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) Photo: Chris Evans, Bugwood.org

8 Cogongrass: Federal Noxious Weed, Florida Noxious Weed, FLEPPC Category I Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

9 Spread by rhizomes: Nancy Loewenstein, Bugwood.org Chuck Bargeron, Bugwood.org

10 Spread by seed: Chris Evans, Bugwood.org Wilson Faircloth, Bugwood.org

11 Impacts: Ditches, pastures, road sides, forests Excludes native vegetation Alters fire regimes Charles T. Bryson, Bugwood.org

12 Identification: Rhizomes: Scales Sharp-pointed tips Rebekah D. Wallace, Bugwood.org Chris Evans, Bugwood.org

13 Identification: Leaves: Off-center white midrib May be pubescent at base Rough margins Sheaths are short Ligule is a membrane Chris Evans, Bugwood.org

14 Identification: Inflorescence: Dense panicle White/silver Plume-like Up to 8 in. long Chris Evans, Bugwood.org Julia Scher, Bugwood.org

15 Management: Prevention Clean equipment! Mechanical repeated, aggressive tillage Cut to a depth of at least 12 inches Chemical Glyphosate (2-4 quarts/a, or 2-5% solution) Imazapyr (1-2 quarts/a, or 2-3% solution)

16 Management: Integrated burn or mow before herbicide application Removes thatch, reduces biomass Herbicide applications on actively growing plants is more effective

17 Natal Grass (Melinis repens)

18 Natal Grass: FLEPPC Category I UF/IFAS Assessment: Invasive (no uses) in South FL Caution in Central FL Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

19 Spread: Prolific seed producer Flowers all year Seed dispersal: wind dispersed, about two weeks after flowering

20 Impacts: Scrub, disturbed uplands, flatwoods, abandoned crop fields, unimproved pastures Colonizes open areas where other species were eradicated

21 Identification: Grows in clumps (4 ft. in height) Leaves: To 1 ft. in length Sheaths glabrous, may have long hairs Upper surface slightly rough

22 Identification: Inflorescence: Panicle, to 8 inches long Pink to purple, hairs turn silver with maturity Spikelets with long hairs Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

23 Management: Prevention is key! Remove nearby seed sources before eradicating other species Establish healthy groundcover of natives Manage plants prior to seed set

24 Management: Mechanical: tillage is effective Burning not effective can increase spread Chemical: Glyphosate (1.5-3 quarts/a, 1-2%) Imazapyr (1-2 pints/a, 0.5% solution)

25 Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) David J. Moorhead, Bugwood.org

26 Golden Bamboo: FLEPPC Category II Caution in North and South FL (UF/IFAS Assessment) Chuck Bargeron, Bugwood.org Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

27 Spread: Rhizomes Spreads quickly if not contained Produces little seed Nancy Loewenstein, Bugwood.org

28 Impacts: Invades hardwood forests and pine flatwoods Chuck Bargeron, Bugwood.org

29 Identification: Up to 33 ft. in height Stems: Swollen band under each node Branches in pairs Chuck Bargeron, Bugwood.org Crowded nodes form zig-zag at base May turn yellow with age Abrahami

30 Identification: Leaves: Up to 6 inches long Rough edges Tufts of hair on the collars Nancy Loewenstein, Bugwood.org

31 Management: Prevention limit use as ornamental, remove from landscapes Mechanical cutting/mowing for small populations Cut close to the ground Fire ineffective stimulates rhizome growth

32 Management: Chemical: Glyphosate (5% solution) Imazapyr (1% solution) Integrated: Cut stems first apply immediately or to new growth

33 Mission Grass (Pennisetum polystachion) Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

34 Mission Grass: Federal Noxious Weed, Florida Noxious Weed FLEPPC Category II Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

35 Spread: Seeds dispersed by wind, water, animals/clothing Hay contaminant Limited vegetative dispersal Branches root at nodes Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

36 Impacts: Colonizes disturbed sites Agricultural/pasture productivity Displaces native species Alters fire regimes Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

37 Identification: Clumping, to 6 ft. in height Blades up to 22 in. long, may have hairs Ligule is a ciliate membrane Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

38 Identification: Inflorescence panicle up to 14 in. in length White, yellow, light brown, pink, to purple Feathery bristles aid in seed dispersal Forest and Kim Starr, Bugwood.org

39 Management: Prevention manage prior to seed production Mechanical mow or cut plants, hand-pull Chemical: Glyphosate (1% solution) Imazapyr (0.5% solution)

40 John D. Byrd, Bugwood.org Smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus, S. indicus var. pyramidalis)

41 Small smutgrass Caution in North, Central, and South FL (UF/IFAS Assessment) Giant smutgrass (var. pyramidalis) FLEPPC Category I Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

42 Spread: Prolific seed producer April-December Seeds viable for 2+ years Dispersed through wind, water, animals Joseph M. DiTomaso, Bugwood.org

43 Identification: Perennial bunch grass Sheaths hairless Ligule fringe of small hairs Joseph M. DiTomaso, Bugwood.org

44 Identification: Small Smutgrass: Leaf length: to 1 ft. Bunch size: 8-10 in. diameter Compact, spike-like panicle Giant Smutgrass: Leaf length: to 16 in. Bunch size: in. diameter Open panicle, branches face upward

45 Identification: Small Smutgrass: Giant Smutgrass: Bill Forden Robert K. Godfrey

46 Management: Mechanical mowing and burning are largely ineffective Chemical Hexazinone (2 quarts/a, 2% solution) Glyphosate (4 quarts/a, 3% solution)

47 Dan Clark, Bugwood.org Guinea Grass (Urochloa maxima, syn. Megathrysus maximus)

48 Guinea Grass: FLEPPC Category II UF/IFAS Assessment: Invasive (no uses) in South FL, Caution in Central and North FL Dan Clark, Bugwood.org Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants

49 Spread: Seeds dispersed through wind, water, and animals Forest and Kim Starr

50 Impacts: Flatwoods, scrub, pine rocklands Displaces native species Dan Clark, Bugwood.org

51 Identification: Up to 10 ft. in height Grows in bunches Stems are hairy (especially at the nodes) Blades up to 35 in. long May be hairy on upper surface Dan Clark, Bugwood.org

52 Identification: Inflorescence: Open, branched panicle Green to purplish Forest and Kim Starr

53 Management: Prevention: remove isolated plants before they spread Mechanical: aggressive tillage Chemical: Glyphosate (3 quarts/a, 1% solution) Imazapyr (4 pints/a, 1% solution)

54 References and Useful Links: Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (UF/IFAS): FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species. Langeland, K. A., Cherry, H. M., McCormick, C. M., and Craddock Burks, K. A. Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida s Natural Areas. Gainesville: The University of Florida (2 nd ed.). MacDonald, G., Sellers, B., Langeland, K., Duperron-Bond, T., and Ketterer-Guest, E Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida. Gainesville: University of Florida Smith, H., Ferrell, J., and Sellers, B Identification And Control Of Johnsongrass, Vaseygrass, And Guinea Grass In Pastures. Gainesville: University of Florida. Sellers, B., Ferrell, J. A., and Rana, N Smutgrass Control in Perennial Grass Pastures. Gainesville: The University of Florida. Stokes, C From crop to weed natalgrass in Florida. Wildland Weeds, Summer UF/IFAS, Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida s Natural Areas.

55 Questions?