wavyleaf basketgrass
Oplismenus undulatifolius
The seeds possess a sticky substance that allows them to adhere to surfaces like glue, a dispersal method known as epizoochory.
- Scientific name
- Oplismenus undulatifolius
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Poales › Poaceae › Oplismenus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- increasing
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deeply shaded deciduous forest understories, riparian corridors, and moist woodland margins.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Sunlight, Water, and Soil Nutrients).
- Range
- East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Southern Europe, Mid-Atlantic United States
- Size
- 8 to 12 inches tall; creates mats several meters wide.
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Eradication efforts in non-native ranges; habitat loss in native ranges.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans and pets. However, this plant is a highly aggressive invasive species. Its seeds have sticky awns that cling to fur and fabric. If you walk through a patch, thoroughly brush off your shoes, clothing, and pets before leaving the area to prevent spreading it to new habitats.
Oplismenus undulatifolius , commonly known as wavyleaf basketgrass , is a species of perennial grass from the Poaceae family that is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Southern Africa. It can be found in countries such as Pakistan (Punjab & Kashmir), China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, South Africa, Madagascar and has since been introduced to the Mid-Atlantic United States. There are no recognized subspecies in Catalogue of Life.
Photo: harum.koh, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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