torpedograss: Panicum repens (Cyperales: Poaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

torpedograss	USDA PLANTS Symbol: PARE3 U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Aquatic Plants Grass or Grasslike
Panicum repens L.

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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae
Synonym(s): torpedo grass, couch panicum, wainaku grass, creeping panic
Native Range: Africa, temp. & trop Asia, Europe (GRIN);
Appearance Panicum repens is a perennial grass that can reach up to 3 ft. (1 m) tall. Plants have long, creeping rhizomes with sharp-pointed (torpedo-like) tips. Foliage Leaves are linear, flat or folded, 10 in. (26 cm) long, 0.3 in. (5.3 mm) wide with a whitish, waxy covering. Leaf sheaths can be glabrous or hairy and the ligule is membranous with short hairs. Flowers Flowering occurs nearly year round. Flowers develop in branched, open inflorescences that are 2.8-7.1 in. (7-18 cm) long. Fruit Fruits are small, about 0.07 in. (1.8 mm). Ecological Threat Panicum repens is native to Africa and Eurasia and was introduced into the United States around 1876. This species can occur in a wide variety of habitats. Plants are usually found in damp soils of riparian zones, but can also be found in pastures and on sand dunes. Plants are salt-tolerant.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Plant(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Feature(s); Rhizomes John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Foliage; John D. Byrd, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database , USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Feature(s); rhizomes Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Feature(s); rhizomes Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Karen Brown, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); Ann Murray, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Ann Murray, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources:

Alabama Invasive Plant Council

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council

John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.

South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council

WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States