Quick Facts

Quick facts

• Carib Grass (Eriochloa polystachya) is an aquatic, perennial, creeping grass.
• It prefers swamps, deep-water rice fields, river banks, drains and ditches on heavy soils.
• Its seeds and vegetative fragments are dispersed by water.
• It is a weed of deeply inundated rice fields where its dense growth suppresses other vegetation.

What Does It Look Like?

What is it?

Carib Grass (Eriochloa polystachya) is an aquatic, perennial, creeping grass with stems growing to 5–150 cm high with many lateral branches. The stems are cylindrical or slightly compressed, have a central air cavity, and produce roots from their lower nodes. The leaf blade is flat, long and narrow, 6–25 cm long and 6–15 mm wide, with a pointed tip and rough margins.

The inflorescence is formed at the tip of the stem and is 12–24 cm long and branched, with each branch bearing 6–15 tiny flowers (PIER 2008).

For further information and assistance with identification of Carib Grass contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Flower colour

Unknown

Growth form (weed type/habit)

Grass

Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat

Carib Grass prefers swamps, deep-water rice fields, river banks, drains and ditches on heavy soils. It tolerates strong to medium dry seasons. It is found at the rear of coastal dunes to 500 m altitude (PIER 2008).

Are there similar species?

Carib Grass is one of 30 species in the genus Eriochloa. Keys and descriptions for the native and naturalised Australian species can be found in Sharp & Simon (2002). The use of keys and descriptions for the species occurring in Australia, such as in Sharp & Simon (2002), can provide help in correctly identifying the species.

For further information and assistance with identification of Carib Grass, contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Why Is It A Weed?

What are its impacts?

Agriculture: Carib Grass is a serious weed of deeply inundated rice fields in Mexico, where its dense growth suppresses other vegetation (PIER 2008).

How does it spread?

Carib Grass disperses by seeds and vegetative fragments which are spread by water (PIER 2008).

What is its history in Australia?

Carib Grass is not naturalised in Australia.

How To Manage It?

Best practice management

There is no information available on the control of Carib Grass.

Does it have a biological control agent?

NO

When does it grow? (lifecycle/growth calendar)

Carib Grass is a perennial grass (PIER 2008) but there is no further information available.

Where Is It Found?

Which states and territories is it found?

Not found in any Australian state or territory.

What areas within states and territories is it found?

Carib Grass is not naturalised in Australia.

Where does it originate?

Carib Grass is native to tropical North, Central and South America (PIER 2008).

National And State Weed Listings

Is it a Weed of National Significance (WONS)?

NO

Where is it a declared weed?

NT

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the National Alert List for Environmental Weeds?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Is it on the Agricultural Sleeper List?

NO

Government weed strategies and lists – Weeds Australia

Names And Taxonomy

Main scientific name

Eriochloa polystachya

Other scientific names (synonyms)?

• Eriochloa subglabra (Nash) Hitchc.
• Monachne subglabra Nash

Does it have other known common name(s)?

Caribbean Cup Grass