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Columbus grass (Sorghum almum)

Columbus grass Common Names: sorghum-almum, perennial sorghum, sorghum almum

Description: It is a hybrid between Grain sorghum (S. bicolor) and Johnsongrass (S. halepense). This species is listed under Regulation No. 715 - Seed Law Implementation as a prohibited noxious weed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

Habit: Perennial with short, thick, scaly underground runners.

Leaves: Flat with a sandpaper feel. Blades are 0.5-1.5 in. wide by 18-32 in. long. Sometimes has long hairs at the base of the upper leaf surface. Ligule is membranous and fringed.

Stems: Stout and growing up to 14 feet tall.

Flowers: Panicle that reaches 6-24 in. long, with lax, spreading branches.

Fruit and seeds: 0.25-0.4 in. long and smooth.

Habitat: Native to South America. Can be found in fields, ditches, canals and roadsides.

Reproduction: By seed and rhizomes.

Monitoring and rapid response: Can be controlled with repeat tilling.

Credits: The information provided in this factsheet was gathered from the Bugwood Wiki and University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center.

Individual species images that appear with a number in a black box are courtesy of the Bugwood.org network (http://www.invasive.org). Individual photo author credits may not be included due to the small display size of the images and subsequent difficulty of reading the provided text. All other images appear courtesy of Google (http://images.google.com).


Common Name:

Columbus grass

Scientific Name:

Sorghum almum

Family:

Poaceae
(Grass)

Duration:

Perennial

Habit:

Grasses

USDA Symbol:

SOAL