Panicum repens

Common Name: torpedo grass

Family: Poaceae

Common Synonyms: Panicum littorale, P. nitidum

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a-11

Growth Habit: Graminoid

Origin: Africa, Asia Temperate, Asia Tropical, Europe

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: pre-1876

IFAS Assessment:

• North: INVASIVE
• Central: INVASIVE
• South: INVASIVE

Description

A perennial grass that grows up to 3 m high. The stems are erect, can be glabrous or pubescent, the nodes are usually pubescent, the sheaths can be glabrous or pubescent. The leaf blades are flat and linear and grow up to 90 cm long. The inflorescence is branched.

Habitat

Marshes, coastal swales, lake margins, and wet, disturbed sites.

Comments

Spread is limited to rhizome expansion or fragmentation

Control Methods

• Manual: continuous tillage
• Chemical: Foliar (96 fl oz/ac/year aquatic imazapyr). Imazapyr provides best control 9-12 months after treatment under dry and flooded conditions. However, repeat treatments when dry should include glyphosate (2% glyphosate+ 0.5% imazapyr). [IFAS]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-profiles/http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-profiles/ accessed 13 June, 2017

http://davesgarden.com accessed 13 June, 2017

IFAS. 2011. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/WG/WG20900.pdf Accessed June 13 2017.