Japanese Stiltgrass Invasive
This is the second most biodiverse plant family in kentucky right behind asteraceae sunflower family.
Japanese stiltgrass invasive. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum is bright green with a distinctive silvery stripe of reflective hairs along the midrib of each narrow lance shaped blade the leaves are one to three inches long and alternately arranged on a branched stalk resembling a smaller more delicate version of bamboo. Microstegium vimineum commonly known as japanese stiltgrass packing grass or nepalese browntop is an annual grass that is common in a wide variety of habitats and is well adapted to low light levels. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum is an invasive annual grass. When hiking reduce the spread of invasive plants and seeds by staying on trails keeping pets on a leash.
It germinates in spring and grows slowly through the summer months ultimately reaching heights of 2 to 3 ft. It prefers forested floodplains but will grow almost anywhere from deep shad to full sun nbsp. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum often called stiltgrass or most commonly microstegium is a shade tolerant grass in the poaceae grass plant family. Invasive plant corner japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum by nick koenig.
This article displays images to assist with identification and provides recommendations for control including a management calendar and treatment and timing table. Japanese stiltgrass is commonly found in association with other invasive plants including garlic mustard alliaria petiolata lady s thumb persicaria maculosa japanese honeysuckle lonicera japonica and japanese barberry berberis thunbergii. Invasive species microstegium vimineum watch list japanese stiltgrass is a delicate low growing grass with stems that sprawl over one another and roots from the nodes. Japanese stiltgrass microstegium vimineum trin camus grass family poaceae native range japan korea china malaysia and india description japanese stiltgrass or nepalese browntop is an annual grass with a sprawling habit.
Despite being non native in the united states it serves as a host plant for some native satyr butterflies such as the carolina satyr hermeuptychia sosybius and the endangered mitchell s. If you find japanese stiltgrass or other invasive species in the wild please contact the invading species hotline at 1 800 563 7711 or visit eddmaps ontario to report a sighting. Vimineum was originally documented in tennessee in 1919 and is believed to have been accidentally introduced to the united states through its use as a packing material. 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.
