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Noxious Weed: Once Tested, Now a Menace
10 Oct
Summary
- Once tested for erosion control, Burma reed is now a noxious weed.
- It invaded 75% of Miami-Dade pine rocklands by 1993.
- Dense stands crowd out native plants and alter local fire regimes.
Originally introduced to Florida in 1916 for erosion control and ornamental use, Neyraudia reynaudiana, or Burma reed, has become a significant ecological threat. This perennial grass, native to warm Asian regions, can reach heights of 15 feet and thrives in various conditions, especially infertile, rocky, sun-exposed areas.
By 1993, Burma reed had infiltrated approximately 75% of the pine rocklands in Miami-Dade County, outside Everglades National Park. The grass spreads rapidly via wind-dispersed seeds and underground rhizomes, making eradication difficult. Its dense growth displaces native vegetation and alters local fire regimes, leading the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to categorize it as a Category I invasive species.
Florida now lists Burma reed as a noxious weed, prohibiting its cultivation and distribution, primarily within South Florida counties like Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe, and Collier. While fire can kill its above-ground growth, the plant readily resprouts from its rhizomes, often recovering faster than native species.
