Species Overview

Native to: temperate and tropical Asia from northeastern India and Nepal eastward to Taiwan and southward to the Indonesian island of Java.

Introduced to the USDA Plant Introduction Station in Coconut Grove as a potential erosion control and ornamental in 1916, it was then planted at the Florida Botanical Garden and Arboretum (now Highlands Hammock State Park). By 1993, it had invaded nearly 75% of pine rocklands in Miami-Dade County outside of Everglades National Park. It can occur in large stands and may be mistaken for the native common reed, Phragmites australis. The easiest way to tell the difference is that Neyraudia does not have a ring of hairs encircling the stem just below the inflorescence, whereas Phragmites does.

Species Characteristics

Family: Poaceae

Habit: Robust, reed-like perennial to 3 m (10 ft) tall, forming clumps from short, coarse rhizomes. Stems often branched and filled with soft pith.

Leaves: Sheaths 10–25 cm (4–10 in) long, smooth, shining, clasping, woolly at the top with a line of collar hairs and ligule of hairs. Blades linear, flat or involute, 20–100 cm (8–39 in) long and 8–25 mm (0.3–1 in) wide, glabrous below, sparsely short-hairy above, with margins smooth or rough and midvein inconspicuous; blades often deciduous from sheaths.

Flowers: In a large, terminal, hairy, branched panicle; spike-lets with 5–10 florets; florets hairy, with a short awn between two terminal teeth.

Fruit/seeds: In a large, terminal, hairy, branched panicle; spike-lets with 5–10 florets; florets hairy, with a short awn between two terminal teeth.

Distribution in Florida: South Florida, as well as infrequent reports from the central east coast.

Impacts

It tolerates a variety of soil, light and moisture conditions, but seems to thrive best in infertile, rocky, dry locations in full sun. Flowering year round, it produces copious wind dispersed seeds and can also resprout from fragmented rhizomes transported on equipment. Silk reed threatens globally rare south Florida pine rockland habitats and the endangered species that inhabit them. In these ecosystems it forms dense, nearly monospecific stands, outcompeting native species. It also impacts the fire regime, increases organic litter accumulation, and alters succession patterns.

Clean all equipment and gear after working or recreating in infested areas.

Fire stimulates growth and can be useful in preparation for treatment (see chemical treatment)

Equipment can be used to dig plants out of the ground, but this strategy is labor intensive and highly disruptive to the habitat.

None known.

1–3% glyphosate product. Cut stem: 10% Garlon 4. In areas with surrounding desirable vegetation, the culms can be cut to ground level and sprayed with 5% glyphosate product when the plant reaches a height of approximately 12 to 18 inches (cut stems should be removed from the site). Removing seedheads before treatment will reduce need for follow-up. Responds quickly after fire and should be targeted as soon as new growth reaches 12 to 18 inches. Most native plants will not have resprouted from the fire by the time Burma reed has reached this height, and it can be easily treated with little concern about nontarget damage. Reach out to your local UF IFAS Extension for further assistance with management recommendations. Additional management recommendations can be found in the EDIS Publication Integrated Management of Non-Native Plants in Natural Areas of Florida.