Paragrass (Urochloa Mutica)
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Group: Monocot (Grass)
Perennial grass, that bends down and roots at the lower joints, native of Africa. It grows in moist to wet disturbed and cultivated areas, but is most common in ditches, and often moves into cultivated areas from infested ditch banks.
Leaf blades are flat, smooth, 3/8 to 5/8-inch wide and 4 to 12 inches long. Leaf sheath is hairy with pustule-based hairs. Ligule is a membrane densely fringed with fine hair.
Stem can reach 3 feet tall when growing in open fields, but when leaning through other vegetation, stems can be over 12 feet long. Stems are round in section. Joints are very hairy. Stems often root at the base.
Flowers or seed heads have 8 to 20 branches that have an erect “signal flag” appearance. Flowers and seeds are on the lower side of the branches, and the seeds are wrinkled.
Roots are fibrous.
Propagation is by seed, creeping rhizomes, and stolons.