#stiltgrass

Introduced in 1919 in packing material from China and starting in Tennessee, Japanese Stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, has rapidly spread across the eastern United States and as far west as Texas, and become a menace to native plants. Spreading from seeds that can remain viable for 5- 7 years, stiltgrass can appear in lawns, ground covers, and planting beds and spread with amazing speed. Each…

An invasive grass species frequently found in forests has created a thriving habitat for wolf spiders, who then feed on American toads, a new study has found. Japanese stiltgrass, which was accidentally introduced to the US in the early 1900s, is one of the most pervasive invasive species. Typically found along roads and in forests, it has been found to impact native plant species, invertebrate populations and soil nutrients.