Revised 11/02 -- Author Reviewed 11/02 HIL-905
Brief Description
Japanese stiltgrass (also known as annual jewgrass, bamboograss,
flexible sesagrass, Japanese grass, Mary's grass, microstegium, Nepal
microstegium, or Vietnamese grass) is a summer annual commonly found
in shady, moist areas and is spreading rapidly in woodlands as well
as shaded landscapes and low-maintenance turf throughout the
southeastern U.S. and mid-Atlantic states. Japanese stiltgrass
germinates in early spring, several weeks before crabgrass, yet
flowers and seeds much later, from mid-September through October. It
has broader, shorter leaves than many other annual grasses; somewhat
resembling broadleaf signalgrass or spreading dayflower. After frost,
the foliage and wiry stems turn a distinctive light tan in color and
persist through the winter. Vegetative identification characteristics
include: rolled vernation, a very short membranous ligule, and leaf
blades that are shorter and broader than most other grasses.
General Description
Japanese stiltgrass is a prostrate to erect, sprawling and freely
branched summer annual with spreading stems that root at the nodes.
The stems are still and climb over other vegetation reaching more
than 3 feet (~1 meter) in height but will remain prostrate if mowed.
Leaves are rolled in the bud; ligules are short (~0.5 mm) and
membranous with hairs on the backside; auricles are absent. Leaf
blades are broader than many other grasses, particularly under shady
conditions. Young seedlings are easily distringuished from other
summer annual grasses by the very broad, rounded first leaf. Leaves
on older plants are narrowly elliptic, about 8 times longer than wide
(3 to 8 cm long and 5 to 10 mm wide), sparsely hairy on the upper
surface, and hairless or nearly so on the underside. The sheath has a
hairy margin and hairs at the collar region but otherwise is not
hairy. With age, some of the hairiness of the upper leaf blade may
diminish. Plants have a shallow, fibrous root system. Plants tolerate
mild frosts, often flowering after the first frost, but die with hard
frost. Dead plant parts persist through winter and well into spring
and early summer.
Key Identification Characteristics
Habitat and Distribution
Japanese stiltgrass is most commonly found in shady, moist, disturbed
areas including wetlands, ditch banks, utility rights of way, mulched
landscape beds, and low-maintenance turf; however, infestations are
common in upland forests as well. Infestations typically begin in
disturbed sites; once established, infestations can spread to
undisturbed areas. Introduced from tropical Asia, it has spread
rapidly in public lands throughout the Eastern U.S. It has been
reported throughout the southeastern U.S., north to Ohio and New
York. It is most common in the piedmont and mountains of the
southeast, less common in the coastal plains. More recently, it has
been reported to be encroaching on shaded lawns and landscape
plantings throughout its distribution.
Reproduction and Spread
A summer annual, reproduction is by seeds that germinate in early to
mid-spring (early to mid-March in central N.C.) and sporadically
throughout the growing season. Plants flower in early to mid-autumn
(late September through October in central N.C.). Flowers are
produced in a branched spike, with 1 to 3 (rarely 6) branches
(rachis), each 3 to 5 cm long. Spikelets are in pairs on the rachis,
each 4.5 to 6 mm long. Japanese stiltgrass can produce large numbers
of seeds - from 16,000 to 50,000 seeds per square meter. At least
some of these flowers are cleistogamous (self-fertilized before the
flower opens). Such an adaptation has direct implications on
sanitation measures; to prevent seed production, early removal before
anthesis is imperative because some florets will produce seed before
flowers have opened.
Control
Since Japanese stiltgrass infestations typically begin in disturbed
areas and then spread from those sites, early detection and control
can prevent severe infestations. Seeds are believed to be not
long-lived in the soil. Although limited information on seed bank
dynamics is available, research suggests that seeds last only 3 to 5
years in the soil. Therefore, long-term management programs should
emphasize prevention of seedhead formation to deplete the seed
reservoir. Mulches suppress germination; however, in shady, moist
areas it can grow in mulch. Preemergence and postemergence herbicides
used for crabgrass control generally are equally or more effective on
Japanese stiltgrass. The only herbicide specifically labeled for
Japanese stiltgrss is Plateau (imazapic). Plateau may be applied
preemergence or postemergence to Japanese stiltgrass. Consult the
herbicide label for details.
In research, postemergence non-selective herbicides such as Roundup-Pro (glyphosate) and Finale (glufosinate) provided excellent control with one or two applications, respectively. Selective postemergence grass herbicides were generally effective on this weed. Of the selective graminicides tested, Vantage (sethoxydim) provided the best control followed by Fusilade II (fluazifop-p), which was equal to Acclaim Extra (fenoxaprop) and better than Envoy (clethodim). Research at the University of Tennssee also suggests that sufentrazon (Authority or Oust) is effective. Dimension (dithiopyr), MSMA and Drive (quinclorac) were not effective for postemergence control. When using selective graminicides, young seedling weeds will be better controlled than larger plants. Several preemergence herbicides controlled Japanese stiltgrass, including: Preen (trifluralin), Dimension (dithiopyr), Surflan (oryzalin), Pendulum (pendimethalin), Barricade (prodiamine), Snapshot TG (isoxaben + trifluralin), Ronstar (oxadiazon) and XL (oryzalin + benefin). Pennant (metolachlor), Team Pro (benefin + trifluralin) and Devrinol (napropamide) were less effective. If preemergence herbicides are to be used, applications must be made before the weed germinates - which occurs several weeks before crabgrass germination.
Several preemergence and postemergence herbicides control Japanese stiltgrass. The goals of your site management program should influence your herbicide choices. If one wants to control Japanese stiltgrass without harming desirable vegetation, a selective grass herbicide might be most appropriate. If total herbaceous vegetation is the goal, then non-selective herbicides or broad-spectrum soil residual herbicides may be a better choice.
** Before using any herbicide, read the label and follow all label directions and restrictions.
Similar Species
Japanese stiltgrass resembles other coarse-textured summer annual
grasses including smooth crabgrass and broadleaf signalgrass. In
contrast, crabgrass has a tall membranous ligule (to 2 mm), longer
and narrow leafblades (15 to 20 times longer than wide), and lacks
hairs on the margin of the sheath. Broadleaf signalgrass is easily
distinguished from Japanese stiltgrass and crabgrass by its hairy
(ciliate) ligule. Under shady conditions, Japanese stiltgrass
resembles the foliage of dayflower; however, the presence of a
membranous ligule readily separates Japanese stiltgrass from members
of the dayflower family (Commelinaceae) which do not have ligules and
are not grasses.
Links
For more information, visit the following links.
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Published by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service |
