small carpetgrass, joint-head grass
(Arthraxon hispidus (Thunb.) Makino)

Overview

Appearance

The plant stands to 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) tall with oval to lance-shaped leaves.

Foliage

Leaves are 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long, 0.2 in. (0.5 cm) wide and have heart shaped bases. The margins of the leaves have conspicuous hairs.

Flowers

Flowers bloom in early fall and are contained in 1 to several, 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long spikes.

Fruit

Fruit is a caryopsis.

Ecological Threat

Arthraxon hispidus is an annual grass that was introduced into the United States, either accidentally or by immigrants, from Japan and eastern Asia. Arthraxon hispidus inhabits wet areas such as stream banks, flood plains and shorelines.

Resources

• Weed of the Week - USDA Forest Service
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• Connecticut Invasive Plant List
• Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group
• Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council - Category 1 Alert
• Indiana Invasive Species Council - Invasive Plant List
• Indiana Terrestrial Plant Rule
• Invasive Plant Species of West Virginia
• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007
• Jil Swearingen, personal communication, 2009-2017
• Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council - Severe Threat
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Massachusetts Invasive Plants Advisory Group List
• Massachusetts Noxious Weeds
• Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List
• National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Invasive Plant List
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
• Non-Native Invasive Plants of Arlington County, Virginia
• Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
• Ohio Invasive Species Council
• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Invasive Plants
• Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas
• Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council
• WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
• West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Volunteer Guidelines 2014
• West Virginia Native Plant Society, Flora West Virginia Project, and West Virginia Curatorial Database System, September 3, 1999

References