Signal grass
Urochloa decumbens
family
Poaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Signal Grass, Brachiaria, Basilisk signal grass, Signal grass, Surinamgrass, Surinam grass.
A long-lived grass (up to 1.5 m tall) with stems usually lying close to the ground near their base and then turning upwards. Its seed-heads have several branches and these are all arranged along one side of the stem. The seed-head branches have a loose covering of long hairs and are somewhat flattened. Its oval-shaped flower spikelets are usually somewhat hairy. The tip of the stem usually extends slightly beyond the last branch of the seed-head.
Impact
Impact
Signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) is regarded as an environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland, and was recently listed among the top 200 most invasive plants in this region. It vigorously colonises disturbed environments and forms dense stands in the understorey of open woodlands, along waterways and on floodplains. This species has also been observed to colonise disturbed corridors that are created for powerlines and road networks in rainforests in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in northern Queensland. Where signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) occurred in these corridors, it was generally observed to dominate the site.
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) is regarded as an environmental weed in south-eastern Queensland, and was recently listed among the top 200 most invasive plants in this region. It vigorously colonises disturbed environments and forms dense stands in the understorey of open woodlands, along waterways and on floodplains. This species has also been observed to colonise disturbed corridors that are created for powerlines and road networks in rainforests in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in northern Queensland. Where signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) occurred in these corridors, it was generally observed to dominate the site.
