Invasive Grasses

I have discussed before the concerns revolving around non-native invasive species of plants.  These species of plants are a growing concern as plants are spread through natural and non-natural ways.  These non-natural forms of dispersion generally involve the mechanisms of man and machine.  Many invasive grasses have been spread by seeds embedded in mud that clings to tires and undercarriages of trucks and ATVs.  After the Hurricanes of the last few years, with the extensive convoys of Power Company Trucks responding to power outages and downed lines, invasive grasses were spread across the expanse of the Southeast region.  Many other times, seeds are transported on ATVs and tractors that are used for recreation or food plot instillation and bushhogging. 

As Hunters and Outdoorsmen/women, we need to be aware of these invasive species and take care to prevent the spread and, where possible, eradicate these species from our properties.  Below are a list of invasive grasses that are common forested regions, wet lands, crop lands and pastures; areas we hunt.  You can find out more about these and other species at www.invasive.org.

Cogongrass:

Plant. Aggressive, colony-forming dense perennial grass 1 to 5 feet in height, often leaning in mats when over 3 feet in height. Stemless tufts of long leaves, blades yellow green, with off-center midveins and silver-plumed flowers and seeds. Plants arising from branching sharp-tipped white-scaly rhizomes

Ecology. Grows in full sunlight to partial shade, and, thus, can invade a range of sites. Often in circular infestations with rapidly growing and branching rhizomes forming a dense mat to exclude most other vegetation. Aggressively invades right-of-ways, new forest plantations, open forests, old fields, and pastures. Absent in areas with frequent tillage. Colonizes by rhizomes and spreads by wind-dispersed seeds and promoted by burning. Highly flammable and a severe fire hazard, burning extremely hot especially in winter.

History and use. Introduced from Southeast Asia into Florida and southern Louisiana, southern Alabama, and southern Georgia in the early 1900s. Initially for soil stabilization. Expectations for improved forage unrealized. A Federal listed noxious weed.

Tall fescue:

Plant. Erect, tufted cool-season perennial grass 2 to 4 feet in height, green in winter and spring, during which it is the most common green bunchgrass. Dark-green leaves appearing in late winter, usually flowering in spring (infrequently in late summer). Semidormant during heat of summer, with whitish seedstalks persisting. Growth resuming in fall and continuing into early winter.

Ecology. The predominant cool-season bunchgrass. Occurs as tufted clumps or small to extensive colonies along forest margins and right-of-ways, and widely escaped to invade new forest plantations, roads, openings, and high-elevation balds. Grows on wet to dry sites. Spreads by expanding rootcrowns and less by seeds. Certain varieties poisonous to livestock and wildlife by infecting them with an endophytic fungus.

History and use. Introduced from Europe in the early to mid-1800s. Recognized as a valuable forage grass in 1930s when the ecotype Kentucky 31 was discovered. Now widely distributed most everywhere in the World. Established widely for turf, forage, soil stabilization, and wildlife food plots.

*this is found in many wildlife seed mixes.  AVOID THESE MIXES!

Common reed:

Common reed is a tall grass that inhabits wet areas like brackish and freshwater marshes, riverbanks, lakeshores, ditches and dredge spoil areas. Native and introduced forms of Phragmites occur in the United States. Researchers believe that introduced European forms are the aggressive invasives that have replaced much of our native reed. Common reed threatens by displacing native plants and forming monocultures in otherwise biologically diverse natural wetlands. It spreads by seed and strong vegetative growth and is very difficult to control once established.

Golden bamboo:

Plant. Perennial infestation-forming bamboos, 16 to 40 feet (5 to 12 m) in height, with jointed cane stems and bushy tops of lanceolate leaves in fan clusters on grasslike stems, often golden green. Plants arising from branched rhizomes.

Ecology. Common around old homesites and now escaped. Colonize by rhizomes with infestations rapidly expanding after disturbance. General dieback periodically after flowering and seeding (about every 7 to 12 years) resulting in standing dead canes and new shoots.

History and use. All native to Asia. Widely planted as ornamentals and for fishing poles.

Johnson grass:

Plant: Erect rhizomatous, perennial graminoid, 1-3m tall, branched from base with broad, long green leaves with prominent white midveins, from scaly sharp rhizomes and forming dense stands. Rhizomes can be as much as 1 cm in diameter and 2 m long. Plant toxic (prussic acid or hydrocyanic acid), if fertilized heavily or drought stricken.

Ecology: Occurs as dense colonies in old fields and along field margins and right-of-ways, where it invades new forest plantations, open forests, and forest openings. Highly competitive with planted and natural tree seedlings. Persists and colonizes by rhizomes and spreads by seeds.

References: 

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.  “Invasive Plants of the Eastern United States:
Identification and Control”.  15 Dec 2010. Web.  1 Jan 2011.  <http://www.invasive.org/>.