Japanese Stiltgrass In Virginia
Japanese stiltgrass is an introduced invasive weed species.
Japanese stiltgrass in virginia. The ligule a structure at the base of the inner side of the leaf of japanese stiltgrass is short and membranous. Invasive means the plant is not native and will outcompete native plants in the area where it is growing in other words take over. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum is a summer annual that thrives in moist shaded areas fig. Its leaves are lance shaped and asymmetrical with a reflective midrib.
Japanese stiltgrass is a shallow rooted warm season annual grass that typically thrives in moist and shaded environments. Luckily this grass is an annual and as such doesn. Invasive plants in northern virginia. Shared by kathrine russell as guest blogger.
Thanks for your question. I have 40 acres that is simply covered in stiltgrass. Most livestock and wildlife will not graze the grass so it is often left to outcompete desired grass species. If you ve ever been enjoying time outdoors at a virginia state park and seen grasses that look like the images below then you may be seeing the highly invasive japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum.
I ve visited sites to study endangered orchids in west virginia over the past few years and i d noticed japanese stiltgrass creeping in and. Japanese stiltgrass one of more damaging invasive species in the mid atlantic region microstegium vimineum japanese stiltgrass threatens wooded areas and is increasingly found on farms and in residential areas where it can invade lawns landscape beds and vegetable gardens. Plant biologists like craig barrett know better. What can i do to get rid of this weed.
Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum also called nepalese browntop is an aggressive invader of forest lands throughout the eastern united states infestations can impact the diversity of native species reduce wildlife habitat and disrupt important ecosystem functions. It can be controlled in lawns using a selective post emergence herbicide as recommended by virginia cooperative extension in the current pest management guide 1 and see table 5 7. First discovered in 1919 in tennessee probably in packing. The current distribution of japanese stiltgrass includes 25 eastern states and it has been reported to be invasive in natural areas in 15 of these connecticut delaware georgia indiana kentucky maryland massachusetts new jersey new york north carolina pennsylvania tennessee virginia west virginia and washington d c.
The weed was identified as japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum. May 29 2020 aamg 0 comments. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum a native to asia is an invasive grass to virginia. Stiltgrass should be aggressively controlled.
Mike mcgrath shares tips and tricks to getting rid of those pesky weeds in your lawn without all the fire and fury.
