Sprangletop, Mucronate Sprangletop, Red Sprangletop

Quick Facts

Sprangletop (Dinebra panicea subsp. brachiata) is a tufted, annual grass with upright or branching bent stems that grows to 40–100 cm high
It is native to warm-temperate and tropical regions of the Americas.
Sprangletop has the potential to become a widespread weed in Australia.
In other countries it is a weed of rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, peanuts and pastures.

What Does It Look Like?

What is it?

Sprangletop (Dinebra panicea subsp. brachiata) is a tufted, annual grass with upright or branching bent stems that grows to 40–100 cm high. The leaf sheaths are smooth to sparsely hairy, often with thin, long, hairs on the upper portion. The ligule (found where the leaf-blade meets the stem) is 1.5–3 mm long, membranous with a fringe of hairs, and irregularly toothed. The leaf blade is 5–45 cm long and 3–10 mm wide.

The inflorescence (flower structure) is a branched cluster, 6–30 cm long, often reddish or purplish and somewhat sticky. The spikelets (groups of flowers) are 2- to 4-flowered.

The seed is broadly oblong, and reddish brown or brown, 0.7–0.8 mm long (PIER 2008). For further information and assistance with identification of Sprangletop contact the herbarium in your state or territory.

Flower colour

Red, Purple

Growth form (weed type/habit)

Grass

Where it currently grows? Preferred habitat

Sprangletop is associated with wetlands, swamps, or streams in open areas. It cannot withstand extremely dry or wet soils and is frequently associated with heavy soils. It can grow in open sun or in light shade (PIER 2008). It is found in waste places, swampy areas, rice fields, gardens and roadsides, commonly in heavy soils (Waterhouse & Mitchell 1998).

Are there similar species?

Sprangletop is similar to Leptochloa chinensis; however, Sprangletop has scattered, long, fine tubercle-based hairs and fewer florets (2-4) per spikelet (Waterhouse & Mitchell, 1998). It can be distinguished from other native species of Dinebra, Acrachne and Leptochloa by its almost equal glumes, at least 2 well developed florets per spikelet and papery leaf blades (Nightingale et al. 2005).

Why Is It A Weed?

What are its impacts?

Agriculture: Sprangletop is a weed of disturbed areas and of crops, including rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane, peanuts and pastures (Waterhouse & Mitchell 1998). It has the potential to become a widespread weed in Australia, as virtually any part of the continent under 1000 m elevation combining seasonal moisture and a disturbed soil surface represents potential habitat (Snow 2004; Nightingale et al. 2005). It is considered a threat to the viticulture industry (Snow 2004).

How does it spread?

Seed of Sprangletop is dispersed by water and animals and as a contaminant of produce (Waterhouse & Mitchell 1998).

What is its history in Australia?

It is not known how or when Sprangletop arrived in Australia. In Western Australia it was first found in 2000 in the Kimberly (Snow 2004).

How To Manage It?

Best practice management

Chemical control: Some chemicals are licensed to be used for the control of Sprangletop in cropping situations (Syngentia undated).

Please see the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for chemical information http://www.apvma.gov.au

Does it have a biological control agent?

NO

When does it grow? (lifecycle/growth calendar)

Sprangletop is an annual grass (PIER 2008). In the Northern Hemisphere it flowers in spring and autumn (Tenaglia 2007).

Where Is It Found?

Which states and territories is it found?

QLD, WA

What areas within states and territories is it found?

Sprangletop has been recorded from coastal Queensland and inland areas of Queensland south of Townsville. It also occurs in the East Kimberley area of Western Australia (Snow 2004; Nightingale et al. 2005).

Where does it originate?

Sprangletop is native to warm-temperate and tropical regions of the United States, Mexico, West Indies, Central America and northern South America (Nightingale et al. 2005; 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

Leptochloa panicea subsp. brachiata

Other scientific names (synonyms)?

Eleusine filiformis Pers.
Eleusine mucronata Michx.
Festuca filiformis Lam.
Leptochloa brachiata Steud.
Leptochloa filiformis (Lam.) P.Beauv.
Leptochloa filiformis (Pers.) P.Beauv.
Leptochloa mucronata (Michx.) Kunth
Rhabdochloa mucronata (Michx.) P.Beauv.
Leptochloa panicea subsp. brachiata (Steud.) N.Snow
Leptochloa panicea subsp. panicea Ohwi (misapplied by Snow, N. & Simon, B.K. 1999, Taxonomic status and Australian distribution of the weedy neotropical grass Leptochloa fusca subsp. uninervia, with an updated key to Australian Leptochloa (Poaceae, Chloridoideae). Austrobaileya. 5(2): 299-305.)