SCIO TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive plant, was found near Ann Arbor, the Department of Natural Resources announced.
The plant was found on private property in Scio Township. It has been on the Michigan invasive species watch list since 2015, but this is the first time it's been detected in the state, the DNR said.
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The University of Michigan Herbarium confirmed the identity of the species.
The DNR said small “satellite” populations were growing on the original property and a nearby site.
The primary infestation was treated with herbicide, and plant material was burned. The small patches of grass at the satellite locations were removed by hand and disposed, the DNR said.
“This annual grass is considered highly invasive, taking hold in areas of disturbed soil along banks, roadways and woods,” said Greg Norwood, invasive species coordinator for the DNR’s Wildlife Division. “Seeds can be transported by water or on animals, and seeds can remain viable in the soil for three to five years. Because deer don’t feed on Japanese stiltgrass, it often takes over in areas where deer browse on native plants and leave open patches of soil.”
Japanese stiltgrass is believed to have arrived in the U.S. from Asia in the early 20th century, when it was used as a packing material for fine china. It is now widely distributed along the East Coast and in southern states.
The DNR said it is collaborating with a nonprofit conservation group based in Ann Arbor, The Stewardship Network, and other partners to identify the extent of the infestation.
The DNR is asking that citizens be on the lookout for Japanese stiltgrass. If spotted, its location and photos should be sent to Norwood at norwoodg@michigan.gov.
The plant is described as:
- A thin, bamboo-like grass with jointed stems and well-spaced leaves.
- Smooth green leaves 2-to-3 inches long and one-half inch wide, tapering to points at both ends, often with an off-center silver stripe or mid-rib.
- 1- to 3-foot-high beds of grass, with some stems running across the ground and others shooting upright.
- Roots, both at the base and stem joints, that are weakly attached to the soil and easy to pull up.
- One to three slender, green flower spikes at the stem tips, appearing in August or September.
Some other plants resemble the plant and may be mistaken for Japanese stiltgrass, including:
- Smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), with tiny, white to pink flowers on a short spike and a telltale dark blotch near the center of each leaf.
- Whitegrass (Leersia virginica), which is well-rooted in the soil and has longer, thinner leaves than stiltgrass, with no mid-rib stripe.
- Northern shorthusk (Brachyelytrum aristosum), with fine hairs on the top, bottom and edges of its leaves and stems, and leaf veins in a pattern resembling an irregular brick wall.
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