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Scientific Name:
Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) Camus (ITIS)
Synonym:
Andropogon vimineus Trin., Eulalia viminea (Trin.) Kuntze (ITIS)
Common Name:
Japanese stiltgrass, Nepalese browntop, Chinese packing grass, Asian stilt grass, annual jewgrass, bamboograss, Nepal microstegium, eulalia, Mary's grass
Native To:
Asia (Fryer 2011)
Date of U.S. Introduction:
First discovered in 1919 (Morrison et al. 2007)
Means of Introduction:
Probably introduced as packing material in shipments from China (Fryer 2011)
Impact:
Can grow in a variety of habitats where it forms dense stands and crowds out native species (Fryer 2011)
Spotlights
Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), also called Nepalese browntop, is an aggressive invader of forest lands throughout the eastern United States. Infestations can impact the diversity of native species, reduce wildlife habitat, and disrupt important ecosystem functions. Stiltgrass is considered one of the most damaging invasive plant species in the United States. Infestations spread rapidly and the seed can remain viable in the soil for up to five years. Correct identification is necessary before beginning any management activities. Fortunately, Japanese stiltgrass has a unique combination of characteristics that make field identification possible. This publication gives simple descriptions and clear pictures of these characteristics along with details on how to distinguish several common look-a-like species. Download the full PDF version of Field Guide to The Identification of Japanese Stiltgrass with comparisons to other look-a-like species, ANR – 1457 (PDF | 16.1 MB).
Distribution / Maps / Survey Status
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Provides state, county, point and GIS data. Maps can be downloaded and shared.
Images
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
Videos
Google. YouTube; University of Wisconsin-Madison. Wisconsin First Detector Network.
Selected Resources
The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source. Or, to display all related content view all resources for Japanese Stiltgrass.
Council or Task Force
Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council.
Partnership
European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization.
IUCN. Species Survival Commission. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health.
New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse.
Federal Government
USDA. FS. Rocky Mountain Research Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Marine Invasions Research Lab.
USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program. GRIN-Global.
State and Local Government
New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets, and Food. Division of Plant Industry.
See also: New Hampshire's Prohibited Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for additional invasive trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants
Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Forest Service.
See also: Invasive Plants and Insects Fact Sheets for additional species to help control invasive species in Maryland
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Forest Service.
See also: Forest Health Publications for more Invasive Species Leaflets
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
See also: Invasive Species Fact Sheets for more species
Missouri Department of Conservation.
See also: Problem Plant Control (scroll to Invasive Plants section) for more information to help you identify and control most common invasive plants in Missouri
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
See also: Invasive Plant Fact Sheets for plant species (trees, shrubs, vines, herbs and aquatic plants) that have impacted the state's natural lands
Academic
Pennsylvania State University. Pennsylvania Sea Grant.
See also: Aquatic Invasive Species: Resources for additional species information
Rutgers University. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Ohio State University. Extension.
Pennsylvania State University. Cooperative Extension.
Columbia University. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation.
University of Maine Cooperative Extension.
See also: Maine Invasive Plants & Entire Series for entire series of 22 fact sheets and invasive plants brochure (available in HTML/PDF or for purchase)
Citations
- Fryer, J.L. 2011. Microstegium vimineum. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Microstegium vimineum. [Accessed Sep 10, 2014].
- Morrison, J.A., Lubchansky, H.A., Mauck, K.E., McCartney, K., and B. Dunn. 2007. Ecological comparison of two co-invasive species in eastern deciduous forests: Alliaria petiolata and Microstegium vimineum. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 134(1):1-17.