| Country or region name |
Thailand |
| Organism group |
plant |
| Order name |
Cyperales |
| Family name |
Poaceae |
| Species name |
Cynodon nlemfensi |
| English common name |
giant star grass, stargrass, African star grass, robust star grass
|
| Substantially same species (synonym) |
|
| Year of invasion or detection |
|
| Native region |
|
| Situation of establishment |
Category 8: Introduced time is not clear, but not distributed all
over the country. |
| Taxonomic description |
| Morphological feature: Giant star grass is a stoloniferous perennial
without rhizomes. The stolons are woody and lie flat on the surface up
to 2 meters long. Culms are soft and robust, up to 60 cm high, flowering
culms somewhat slender. Leaf blades are linear, acute, flat, 5-15 cm by
2-6 mm. Inflorescence of 4-10 digitate racemes in 1 whorl. Racemes are
spreading, 4-10 cm long, purple. Spikelets are 2-3 long; upper glumes more
are more than half the length of the spikelets. |
| Expansion of distribution area |
| The grass was introduced into Thailand as a soil binder to prevent
erosion but then become a serious weed in orchards and coffee plantations
in the highlands of northern Thailand (Harada et al, 1987).This plant is
abundant in highland agricultural areas, especially vegetable fields.
Today it is a noxious weed in many areas, from sea level to the highlands
and can be found throughout the country. Moreover, in Bangkok where elevation
is near sea level, the plant can grow well and form pure communities in
abandoned areas.
|
| Environmental impact |
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| Economic damage |
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| Reproduction |
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| Growth |
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| Countermeasure |
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| Writer's name and affiliation |
| © Siriporn Zungsontiporn. Plant Protection Research and Development
Office, Department of Agriculture, Thailand. (Written in May 2005) |
