''Ehrharta erecta'' is a species of grass commonly known as panic veldtgrass. The species is native to Southern Africa and Yemen. It is a documented invasive species in the United States, New Zealand,

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, southern Europe, and

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

. The species is perennial, and normally grows to about 30 to 50 centimeters, although it may reach two meters in height. It will grow in a wide variety of habitats, even in shade. The species has been used for birdseed, and in ecological restoration such as dune stabilization. However, it has become an invasive weed in many parts of the world. Flowering and seeding throughout the year, its seeds germinate rapidly, forming new plants in only a few weeks.

Distribution

It was first recorded in Ireland in 2017, but there are earlier records from Great Britain.Nash, D. 2018 Panic Velt Grass (Ehrharta erecta L.) a grass new to Ireland. ''Irish Naturalists' Journal'' 36(1) p.30-31

References

External links

Grass Manual Treatment of ''Ehrharta erecta''

Jepson Manual Treatment
— ''invasive plant species in California''.
USDA Plants Profile
— ''invasive plant species in the United States''.
UC CalPhoto gallery of ''Ehrharta erecta''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3758628 Oryzoideae Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Afromontane flora Taxa named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck Plants described in 1786