Japanese Stiltgrass

Japanese Stiltgrass, Nepalese Browntop

[Microstegium vimineum (Trin.) A. Camus]

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ close-up of young plant

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ ▼ adventitious roots from nodes of young plant

▲ leaf collar region, showing long, stiff hairs

▲ leaf blade with shiny, wide midst ripe

Japanese Stiltgrass, Nepalese Browntop: (not in Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weeds of the Northeast)

summer annual, invasive grass from Asia, common in moist, sunny to moderately shady sites--frequently along streambanks in areas where it has invaded
has slender reddish-brown to green stems, with short, broad leaves (1/2" wide and3-5" long), resembling a miniature bamboo plant
leaves have iridescent or glossy “stripe" along midvein on top of leaf
readily roots at the nodes, and can send up new vertical shoots at rooted nodes
inflorescence is a slender tan spike
found in southeast and southern Missouri in isolated locations, but also in northwest Arkansas and northeast Oklahoma, so potential for further spread into southwest Missouri is great
can replace native riparian vegetation along streambanks, altering habitats