Urochloa mutica
Common name
para grass
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Grasses
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
UROMUT
Conservation status
Not applicable
Habitat
Terrestrial. Maximum growth is attained in swampy places and stream banks, however it can tolerate and persist in partial shade.
Detailed description
Stoloniferous perennial grass which grows up to 2 m tall. Culm 2–5 mm diameter, simple or narrowly branched. Leaf-blade c. 20 cm long, hairy and up to 16 mm wide. Panicle consists of up to 12 racemes on a rachis up to 16 cm long; each raceme has numerous paired spikelets.
Similar taxa
The large velvety leaves, covered in hairs with small wart-like swelling at the base distinguish this species.
Year naturalised
1977
Origin
North Africa
Reason For Introduction
Agricultural
Reproduction
Spread is primarily by long stolons and bending branches, both of which root at the nodes. Spread of the species by seed is unlikely as flowering is uncommon and sparse. The climate on Raoul Island is probably too cool for seed to set, and marginal for flower initiation (Skerman and Riveros 1990 in West 1996).
References and further reading
Skerman PJ, Riveros F. 1990. Tropical Grasses. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series no. 23. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome.
West CJ. 1996. Assessment of the weed control programme on Raoul Island, Kermadec Group. Science & Research Series No. 98. Department of Conservation, Wellington, NZ. 100 p.