United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following taxa

should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of that section, 

APHIS has produced data sheets which detail the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making 

the determination that the taxa are quarantine pest plants.

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheets

Table of Contents

Click on a quarantine pest plant below to view the corresponding data sheet:

Acroceras zizanioides

Actinoscirpus grossus

Austroeupatorium 

inulifolium

Campuloclinium 

macrocephalum

Cyanotis axillaris

Cyperus exaltatus

Desmostachya bipinnata

Digitaria ternata

Fuirena ciliaris

Gnaphalium affine

Isachne globosa

Ischaemum muticum

Kyllinga polyphylla

Kyllinga pulchella

Mollugo pentaphylla

Myoporum tenuifolium

Ottochloa nodosa

Persicaria thunbergii

Pycreus flavidus

Rubus alceifolius

Sagittaria pygmaea

Tarchonanthus 

camphoratus
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Acroceras zizanioides (Kunth) Dandy12, 13

Family: Poaceae13

Synonyms:

Acroceras oryzoides Stapf12

Echinochloa zizanioides (Kunth) Roberty 

Echinochloa oryzoides (Stapf) Roberty 

Panicum oryzoides Sw. 

Panicum oryzoides Stapf 

Panicum ogowense Franch. 

Panicum lutetense K. Schum. 

Panicum balbisianum Schult. 

Panicum latifolium Hook. f.

Panicum zizanioides is still used in some publications2

Common names: oat grass, arracillo13

Distribution of plant:

Angola, Argentina, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, 

Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Cuba, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, India, Jamaica, 

Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, 
Senegal, Sierra Leone, French Guiana, Suriname, Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, Zaire, 

Zambia and Zimbabwe13.

Distribution in the United States: none reported14

Damage potential of plant:

Acroceras zizanioides is recorded as a principal weed of Trinidad8. It is a vigorous, 

widespread species, flourishing in semi-aquatic and forest situations in Africa, Asia and 

tropical America. In West Africa it is locally frequent to abundant, usually in shady sites, 

in both disturbed and undisturbed soils, in forests and throughout the interior and coastal 

savannas

10

. It would seem well adapted to be a significant threat to wetlands and forest in 

any tropical regions of The United States.

References:

1. Adams, C.D., Kasasian, L. and Seyave, J. 1968. Common Weeds of the West Indies. 

University of the West Indies. 139 pp.

2. Barnes, D.E. and Chan, L.G. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and their Control. Ancom 

Berhad, Shah Alam, Malaysia. (p. 142)

3. Bor, N.L. 1960. The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan (excluding 

Bambusae) Pergamon Press, Oxford. (pp. 275-276).

4. Burkhill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Families E-I. 2nd edition. 

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (p. 172.)

5. Clayton, W.D. 1989. 200. Gramineae (Paniceae, Isachneae and Aruninelleae) In: Launert, 

E. and Pope, G.V. (eds.) Flora Zambesiaca Volume Ten Part Three. Flora Zambesiaca 

Managing Committee, London. (pp. 48, 50).

6. Clayton, W.D. and Renvoize, S.A. 1982. Gramineae (Part 3). In: (Polhill, R.M. (ed.) 

Flora of Tropical East Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam. (p. 565).

7. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1980. Grass Weeds 1. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 1.)

8. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

9. Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. and Hepper, F.N. 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. 

Volume 3 Part 2. Crown Agents, London. (p. 435.)

10. Rose-Innes, R. 1977. A Manual of Ghana Grasses. Ministry of Overseas Development, 

London. (pp. 87, 89.) 
11. Shukla, U. 1996. The Grasses of North-eastern India. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur. (p. 

306). 

12. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 21 Jan 2012

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/25500095.

13. USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) on-line database. ARS 

National Genetic Resources Program. Accessed on line Jan 21, 2012 at http://www.arsgrin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?103442.

14. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch, 

Accessed Jan 21, 2012. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

15. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference.CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. 749 pp.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Actinoscirpus grossus (L.f.) Goetgh. & D.A. Simpson2

Family: Cyperaceae

Synonyms:

Scirpus grossus L.f.8

Schoenoplectus grossus (L.f.) Palla8

Scirpus aemulans Steud. 

Scirpus maximus Roxb.

Hymenochaeta grossa (L.f.) Nees8

Scirpus kysoor Roxb. 2

This is still referred to as Schoenoplectus grossus (e.g Wiersma and Leon, 1999) or 

Scirpus grossus in some publications, but Actinoscirpus grossus is the preferred generic 

name in the most recently published flora6.

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, 

Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia2

Distribution in the United States: none reported
Damage potential of plant: 

Actinoscirpus grossus is recorded as a principal weed for Southeast Asian countries, 

presumably as a weed of rice crops3. It occurs in swampy and inundated places, pools, 

ditches, marshes and is locally abundant especially in the lowlands; it is also a host of 

Chilo polychrysus, the dark-headed rice borer4. 

This is a robust, widespread and important weed, spreading by stolons and capable of 

dominating rice crops and wetlands. As such it poses a significant threat to tropical areas 

of the United States.

References:

1. Barnes, D.E. and Chan, L.G. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and their Control. Ancom 

Berhad, Shah Alam, Malaysia. (pp. 136-137, 146).

2. GRIN 2001. USDA Germplasm Information Network on-line database. ARS National 

Genetic Resources Program. Access date: Jan 24, 2012. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgibin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?409599.

3. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

4. Kostermans, A.J.G.H., Wirjahardja, S. and Dekker, R.J. 1987. The weeds: description, 

ecology and control. In: Soerjani, M., Kostermans, A.J.G.H. and Tjitrosoepomo, G. (eds.) 

Weeds of Rice in Indonesia. SEAMEO, BIOTROP. (pp. 412-413, incl. illustration). 

5. Noda, K., Teerawatsakul, M., Prakongvongs, C. and Chaiwiratnukul, L. 1985. Major 

Weeds in Thailand. National Weed Science Research Institute, Bangkok. (p. 46). 

6. Noltie, H.J. 2000. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim and Darjeeling. 

Volume 3 Part 1. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. (p. 280).

7. Pancho, J.V. and Soerjani, M. 1978. Aquatic Weeds of Southeast Asia. UPLB, Manila and 

BIOTROP, Bogor. (pp. 101-103).

8. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed on February, 2012. Online at 

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/9906183.

9. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. 749 pp. 

10. Yong, S.H. and Goh, A.K. 1977. Weeds in Padi-Fields (Peninsular Malaysia). Ministry of 

Agriculture, Malaysia. (pp. 14).
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Austroeupatorium inulifolium (Kunth) R. M. King & H. Rob. 5

Family: Asteraceae 5

Synonyms: Eupatorium inulifolium Kunth.

5

Common names: austroeupatorium 5

Distribution of plant:

Panama, Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina,

Paraguay, Uruguay 5

, Indonesia, Java, Sri Lanka5, Sumatra, Ceylon and Taiwan1

Distribution in the United States: none reported 6

Damage potential of plant: 

Austroeupatorium inulifolium was identified as a potential threat to United States 

ecosystems using a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, 

geographic range potential, damage potential and entry potential3

. A. inulifolium is a 

serious weed in the Philippines and is considered a weed of upland rice 2

. A.inulifolium 

forms dense thickets and is a weed of disturbed forests, plantations, perennial crops and 

roadsides in the Philippines, Indonesia, southeast Asia and Sri Lanka7

. It has been named 

as a noxious weed as well as quarantine weed, supported by 10 references in the ‘Global 

Compendium of Weeds’

4

. It is considered to be an aggressive species that rapidly 

colonizes areas cleared for the planting of new crops, agricultural fields, fallow fields, 

waste lands and roadsides1

. 
References:

1. Hsu, Tsai-Wen, Ching-I Peng and Chiu-Mei Wang. 2006. Austroeupatorium inulifolium

(Kunth) King & Robinson (Asteraceae), a newly naturalized plant in Taiwan. Taiwania

51(1):41-45.

2. Pacific Islands Ecosystem at Risk project (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems:

http://www.hear.org/Pier/index.html (Accessed February, 2012)

3. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

4. Randall, Rod P. 2002. A Global Compendium of of Weeds. Published by R.G. and F.J. 

Richardson, PO Box 42, Meredith, Victoria 3333, Australia. Accessed February 14, 2012 

at: http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/austroeupatorium_inulaefolium/

5. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgibin/npgs/html/

(Accessed February, 2012)

6. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS database <http://plants.usda.gov/plants>. (Accessed

February, 2012). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

7. Weeds Australia: An Australian Weeds Committee National Initiative. Available on 

online at http://www.weeds.org.au/ (Accessed February, 2012)
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Less.) DC. 5

Family: Asteraceae

Synonyms: 

Eupatorium macrocephalum Less. 

Eupatorium donianum Hook. & Arn. 

Common names: pompom weed (South Africa), pompom bossie (South Africa)

Distribution of plant:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Paraguay5

Distribution in the United States: none reported6

Damage potential of plant: 

Originating in S. America, E. macrocephalum is recorded as a principal weed of Brazil2. 

It is included among ‘Plant Invaders of South Africa’

1

, and is noted to be cultivated for 

ornamental purposes but also to have invaded grasslands and roadsides. It is listed as a 

weed of dry soils in South Africa, mainly in ruderal situations, competitive, and replacing 

other vegetation7

. It has spread rapidly in South Africa in the past 20 years and is of 

concern for its ability to invade even undisturbed climax grassland and wetlands3

. 

Farmers in the Pretoria area have complained about the degradation of their pastures and 
the difficulty of eradicating it. 

Occurrence in Mexico and probable availability as an ornamental increases the likelihood 

that it may be presented for the entry into U.S. where it could have adverse impact on 

grassland and natural vegetation.

References:

1. Henderson, L. 1995. Plant Invaders of Southern Africa. Plant Protection Research 

Institute Handbook No 5. ARC/LNR, South Africa. (p. 9).

2. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp. 

3. Klein, M. and Neser, S. 1999. Population explosion of the floral kind. Plant Protection 

News 54: 9-12.

4. Mobot. 2000. W3TROPICOS database. Missouri Botanic Garden, Accessed on February 

2012 Online at http://www.tropicos.org/Name/2712886.

5. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgibin/npgs/html/

(Accessed February, 2012)

6. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS database <http://plants.usda.gov/plants>. (Accessed

February, 2012). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

7. Wells, M.J., Balsinhas, A.A., Joffe, H., Engelbrecht, V.M., Harding, G. and Stirton, C.H. 

1986. A catalogue of problem plants in Southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical 

Survey of South Africa 53. (p. 209).
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Cyanotis axillaris (L.) D. Don4

Family: Commelinaceae4

Synonyms:

Commelina axillaris L.2

Amischophacelus axillaris (L.) R.S. Rao & Kammathy1

Tradescantia axillaris (L.) L.2

Tonningia axillaris (L.) Kuntze

Tonningia axillaris (L.) Raf.

Zygomenes axillaris (L.) Salisb.

Distribution of plant:

China, India, Malaysia, Australia4, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sudan, 

and the Philippines1

Distribution in the United States: none reported4

Damage potential of plant: 

Cyanotis axillaris was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using a 

model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range 

potential, damage potential and entry potential3

. C. axillaris is a principal weed of 

Thailand, India, and Sudan, and a common weed of the Philippines1. In Thailand, this 

plant is a weed of rubber plantations4. 
References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P., and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 391 pp.

2. Missouri Botanical Garden, W3 TROPICOS Nomenclatural Database. Flora of China 

# 50043981. Accessed February, 2012, online at

http://www.tropicos.org/namesearch.aspx?name=cyanotis+axillaris.

3. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

4. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP). Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory (NGRL), Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?401626.

5. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, 

LA 70874-4490 USA. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/plants.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Cyperus exaltatus Retz.5

Family: Cyperaceae1

Synonyms: Cyperus dives 5

Distribution of plant:

Australia, Israel, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri 

Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea5

, Africa2

Distribution in the United States: none reported6

Damage potential of plant: 

Cyperus exaltatus was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using a 

model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range 

potential, damage potential and entry potential4

. C. exaltatus is a prinicipal weed of India 

and a weed of unknown significance in Australia1. C. exaltatus is a troublesome weed in 

paddy fields in Bangladesh2. C. exaltatus is a potential pathway for Bulinus globosus

(ramshorn snail) into the United States3.

References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 391 pp.

2. Invasive Alien Species in South-southeast Asia, National Reports 2002. Accessed 
February , 2012 online at http://www.gisp.org/publications/reports/SOUTH_AN.PDF.

3. Marti, H.P., M. Tanner, A.A. Degremont, and T.A. Freyvogel (1985). Studies on the 

ecology of Bulinus globosus, the intermediate host of Schistosoma haematobium in the 

Ifakara area, Tanzania. Acta Trop., 42(2), 171-187. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/2862780.

4. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397 

5. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February. 2012 online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?464418.

6. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed February, 2012 online at http://plants.usda.gov/plants.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf5

Family: Poaceae

Synonyms:

Eragrostis cynosuriodes (Retz.) P. Beauv.

Poa cynosuriodes Retz.

5

Uniola bipinnata L.

Common names: halfa5

, big cordgrass, salt reed-grass3

Distribution of plant:

Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, 

Afghanistan, China, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi 

Arabia, Thailand5

Distribution in the United States: none reported5

Damage potential of plant: 

Desmostachya bipinnata is a tall, tufted perennial grass that can grow over 6 feet tall. It 

thrives in hot, dry areas, forms tussocks in sandy desert environments, and can also be 

found in low-lying waterlogged sites. The grass is used for thatching, as a rope material 

in India and Sudan2, and as fodder in arid regions5. Medicinal properties have been 

reported; in some areas it is considered a diuretic and is used to treat dysentery and 

menorrhagia2

. In agricultural settings, D. bipinnata is considered a weed, especially in 

wheat1

, and is a potential seed contaminant5. Desmostachya bipinnata was identified as a 

potential threat to United States ecosystems using a model that prioritized pest plants 
based on their invasive potential, geographic range potential, damage potential and entry 

potential4.

References:

1. Ahmad, R., Shaikh, A.S. (January-June 2003). “Common Weeds of Wheat and Their 

Control”. Pakistan Journal of Water Resources 7 (1): 73-76. 

2. JSTOR Plant Science. Entry for Desmostachya bipinnata Stapf [family Poaceae]. Entry 

from Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Accessed 9 

February 2012. http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/2_449.

3. Martha Modzelievich. “Desmostachya bipinnata”. Flowers in Israel. Accessed 9 

February 2012. www.flowersinisrael.com/Desmostachyabipinnata_page.htm.

4. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

5. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network- (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?13689.

(09 February 2012)

6. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed February 9, 2012 online at http://plants.usda.gov/plants.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Digitaria ternata (A.Rich.) Stapf18

Family: Poaceae

Synonyms:

Cynodon ternatus A. Rich12

Digitaria argyrostachya (Steud.) Fern.

Digitaria ropalotricha Büse

Panicum ternatum (A. Rich.) Hochst. ex Steud. 

Panicum ternatum (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Steud.

Panicum rapalotrichum Büse ex Koord 

Panicum argyrostachya Steud. 

Panicum phaeocarpum var. gracile Nees 

Paspalum ternatum (A. Rich.) Hook. F. 

Syntherisma ternata (A. Rich.) Newbold17 

Syntherisma argyrostachya (Steud.) Hitchc. & Chase

Common names: blackseed crab grass, black-seed finger grass 7, 18

Distribution of plant:

Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, 

Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, 

Zambia, Zimbabwe, China, Yemen, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, 
Thailand 5,18,13,20,21, Israel, Jordan, Australia, Lebanon, Morocco, Greece9 , Zaire, 

Burundi, Angola5, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, South and Southeast Asia10, Eritrea15

Distribution in the United States: none reported19

Damage potential of plant: 

Digitaria ternata is a very widespread and successful weed, recorded as a “principal” 

weed in Israel and Jordan and a “common” weed in Australia, Lebanon and Morocco10. It 

can be abundant in upland rice in Indonesia, is common in cereal crops in Ethiopia, and 

can be serious in cereal crops in East Africa11, 15, 16. It is reported as a weed of arable land, 

frequently invading pastures14. It is listed as a ruderal, agrestal, and pasture weed in 

South Africa, competitive and able to replace other vegetation21. Digitaria ternata has the 

potential to be introduced accidentally in agricultural produce from many different 

sources and to have considerable impact on crops and on natural vegetation.

References:

1. Bor, N.L. 1960. The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan (excluding 

Bambusae) Pergamon Press, Oxford. (p. 306)

2. Burkhill, H.M. 1994. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Families E-I. 2nd

edition. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (p. 231)

3. Chippindall, L.K.A. 1955. Part 1. A Guide to the Identification of Grasses in South 

Africa. In: Meredith, D. (ed.) The Grasses and Pastures of South Africa. Central News 

Agency. (pp. 418-419)

4. Clayton, W.D. 1989. 200. Gramineae (Paniceae, Isachneae and Aruninelleae) In: Lunert, 

E. and Pope, G.V. (eds.) Flora Zambesiaca Volume Ten Part Three. Flora Zambesiaca 

Management Committee, London. (pp. 136, 142-143)

5. Clayton, W.D. and Renvoize, S.A. 1982. Gramineae (Part 3). In: (Polhill, R.M. (ed.) 

Flora of Tropical East Africa. Balkema, Rotterdam. (pp. 630-632, incl. illustration)

6. Drummond, R.B. 1984. Arable Weeds of Zimbabwe. Agricultural Research Trust of 

Zimbabwe, Harare. (pp. 108-109)

7. Gibbs Russell, G.E, Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L., Barker, N.P., Anderson, 

H.M. and Dellwitz, M.J. 1990. Grasses of Southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical 

Survey of South Africa No 58. (p. 113) 

8. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1980. Grass Weeds 1. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 52) 

9. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.
10. Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. and Hepper, F.N. 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. 

Volume 3 Part 2. Crown Agents, London. (p. 452)

11. Kostermans, A.J.G.H., Wirjahardja, S. and Dekker, R.J. 1987. The weeds: description, 

ecology and control. In: Soerjani, M., Kostermans, A.J.G.H. and Tjitrosoepomo, G. (eds.) 

Weeds of Rice in Indonesia. SEAMEO, BIOTROP. (pp. 412-413, incl. illustration) 

12. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

13. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds. Potential problems in the 

United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA ARS APHIS. (p. 67)

14. Shukla, U. 1996. The Grasses of North-eastern India. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur. (pp. 

321-322)

15. Stroud, A. and Parker, C. 1989. A Weed Identification Guide for Ethiopia. FAO, Rome. 

(pp. 134-135) 

16. Terry, P.J. 1984. A Guide to Weed Control in East African Crops. Kenya Literature 

Bureau, Nairobi. (p. 168)

17. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed on February, 2012. Online at 

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/9906183.

18. USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) on-line database. ARS 

National Genetic Resources Program. Accessed on line February, 2011 athttp://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?14114.

19. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed February, 2012 online at http://plants.usda.gov/plants.

20. Vernon, D. 1983. Field Guide to Important Arable Weeds of Zambia. Department of 

Agriculture, Chilanga, Zambia. (pp. 112-113) 

21. Wells, M.J., Balsinhas, A.A., Joffe, H., Engelbrecht, V.M., Harding, G. and Stirton, C.H. 

1986. A catalogue of problem plants in southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey 

of South Africa 53. (p. 209)

22. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. (p. 209) 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Fuirena ciliaris (L.) Roxb3

Family: Cyperaceae3

Synonyms: Scirpus ciliaris L.3

Common names: umbrella grass, yaa khom baang klom3

Distribution of plant:

Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, 

Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, 

Swaziland, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, 

Philippines, Australia3

Distribution in the United States: none reported4

Damage potential of plant: 

Fuirena ciliaris was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using a 

model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range 

potential, damage potential and entry potential2. F. ciliaris is a weed of rice in Indonesia3, 

and has been declared a threat to the Pacific Islands ecosystem

1

. 

References:

1. Pacific Islands Ecosystem at Risk project (PIER). Plant Threats to Pacific Ecosystems. 

Accessed February 13, 2012 online at http://www.hear.org/Pier/index.html.
2. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

3. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 13, 2012 online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?402830.

4. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. Accessed February 13, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/news. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Gnaphalium affine D. Don4

Family: Asteraceae4

Synonyms: Gnaphalium multiceps Wall. ex DC.4

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, Indochina, Myanmar, Thailand4

, Egypt, Kenya, 

Portugal, Rhodesia, and South Africa1

Distribution in the United States: none reported5

Damage potential of plant: 

Gnaphalium affine was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using 

a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range 

potential, damage potential and entry potential3. G. affine is a principal weed of Japan 

and a common weed of Taiwan, Egypt, Kenya, Portugal, Rhodesia, and South Africa1.

References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 391 pp.

2. Missouri Botanical Garden, W3 TROPICOS Nomenclatural Database. Flora of China # 

50043981. Accessed February 13, 2012 online at http://mobot.mobot.org/cgibin/search_vast.
3. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

4. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 13, 2012 online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?423881.

5. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. Accessed February 13, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/plants. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Isachne globosa (Thunb.) Kuntze15

Family: Poaceae

15

Synonyms:

Isachne australis R. Br.

Milium globosum Thunb.15

Agrostis globosa (Thunb.) Poir. 

Eriochloa globosa (Thunb.) Poir.

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, 

Philippines, Australia15, Thailand, and Vietnam7

Distribution in the United States: none reported16

Damage potential of plant: 

Isachne globosa is a serious weed in Sri Lanka7. It is named as one of the four mostfrequent weeds of rice in six growing areas in Sri Lanka3

, and it has also been reported in 

soybean9. In Indonesia it is a weed of lowland-irrigated and rain-fed rice, while in 

marshes it may form large cushions, sometimes dominant, capable of invading cultivated. 

Sometimes I. globosa is cultivated as a forage grass8

. It is common throughout Japan, 
from cool temperate to subtropical regions, occurring in lake margins, ditches and rice 

fields9. I. globosa is palatable to cattle, but is a troublesome weed in rice crops2. It 

appears to have the potential to become a serious weed of rice and wetlands in warm 

regions of the United States.

References:

1. Barnes, D. E. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and Their Control. Ancom Berhad, 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 349 pp. 

2. Bor, N. L. 1960. The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan (excluding 

Bambusae). Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK. 767 pp. 

3. Chandrasena, J.P.N.R. 1987. Rice – Field weeds in the Colombo and Gampaha districts 

of Sri Lanka. J. Natn. Sci. Coun. Sri Lanka 15(2): 249-265.

4. Edgar, E., and H. E. Connor. 2000: Flora of New Zealand Vol. 5, Grasses. Whenua Press, 

Lincoln, Manaaki, New Zealand. 

5. Grosse, W., K. Jovy, and H. Tiebel. 1996. Influence of plants on redox potential and 

methane production in water-saturated soil. Hydrobiologia 340:93–99. 

6. Häfliger, E., and H. Scholz. 1980. Grass weeds 1. Weeds of the subfamily Panicoideae. 

CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 123 pp. 

7. Holm, L. G., J. V. Pancho, J. P. Herberger, and D. L. Plunknett. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 391 pp. 

8. Kostermans, A. J. G. H., S. Wirjahardja, and R. J. Dekker. 1987. The weeds: description, 

ecology and control. Pages 24-565 in M. Soerjani, A. J. G. H. Kostermans, and G. 

Tjitrosoepomo (eds.). Weeds of Rice in Indonesia. Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, Indonesia. 

9. Marambe, B. 1998. The mechanism of weed interference in soyabean. Tropical Science 

38:138–146. 

10. Morita, H. 1997. Handbook of Arable Weeds of Japan. Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., 

Ltd. Tokyo, Japan. 

11. Numata, M., and N. Yoshikawa (eds.). 1975. Weed Flora of Japan Illustrated by Colour. 

Zenkoku Noson Kyporku Kyokai. Tokyo, Japan. 414 pp. 

12. Pancho, J. V., and M. Soerjani. 1978. Aquatic Weeds of Southeast Asia. SEAMEO 

Regional Center for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP), Bogor, Indonesia. 

13. Shukla, U. 1996. The Grasses of North-Eastern India. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, 

India. 404 pp. 
14. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Last accessed February 2012, from 

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/25538092.

15. USDA. Germplasm Information Network (GRIN). ARS National Genetic Resources 

Program. Last accessed February, 2012, from http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgibin/taxon.pl?447377.

16. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/plants. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.

17. Wang,Z. R. 1990. Farmland Weeds in China. A Collection of Colored Illustrative Plates. 

Agricultural Publishing House, Beijing, China. 506 pp.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Ischaemum muticum L. 9

Family: Poaceae8,9

Synonyms:

Ischaemum glabratum J. Presl8

Ischaemum repens Roxb.8

Anatherum murinus (G. Forst.) Steud.8

Anatherum muticum (L.) P. Beauv.8

Andropogon muticus (L.) Steud.8

Andropogon polymorphus Steud.8

Andropogon relictus (J. Presl) Steud.8

Andropogon repens (Roxb.) Steud.8

Common names: seashore centipede grass9, drought grass9, bamboo grass, suket resap, 

rumput kerupet, rumput keremau, rumput tembaga jantan, ya-waitham, mom trui, 

bambusgras6

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, 

Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Australia, New Caledonia1,4,9,12, Borneo, 

Nicaragua5
Distribution in the United States: none reported10

Damage potential of plant: 

Ischaemum muticum is recorded as a principal weed in Malaysia and Borneo5. It is an 

opportunistic and aggressive colonizer of open and disturbed habitats that can develop 

into huge thickets in drainage channels and ditches6. On the edges of secondary forest, 

plants grow very large, scrambling among bushes. It tolerates wet conditions, especially 

flooding, and short dry periods. It is usually found in areas receiving more than 1500 mm 

rainfall annually. This species has potential to invade wetter parts of the United States 

and cause problems in perennial crops and natural vegetation.

References:

1. Barnes, D. E. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and Their Control. Ancom Berhad, 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 349 pp. 

2. Bor, N. L. 1960. The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan (excluding 

Bambusae). Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK. 767 pp. 

3. CABI. 1999. Crop Protection Compendium (CD ROM). CAB International, Wallingford, 

UK. 

4. Häfliger, E., and H. Scholz. 1980. Grass weeds 1. Weeds of the subfamily Panicoideae. 

CIBA-GEIGY Ltd., Basle, Switzerland. 123 pp. 

5. Holm, L. G., J. V. Pancho, J. P. Herberger, and D. L. Plunknett. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 391 pp. 

6. Ipor, I. B., and B. B. Baki. 1992. Ischaemum muticum L. In L. ‘t Mannetje and R. M. 

Jones (eds.). Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 4. Forages. Pudoc, 

Wageningen, The Netherlands. 304 pp. 

7. Reed, C. F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds: Potential Problems in the 

United States. Agriculture Handbook No. 498. USDA. 

8. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Last accessed February 2012, from 

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/25520996.

9. USDA. Germplasm Information Network (GRIN). ARS National Genetic Resources 

Program. Last accessed February 2012, from http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgibin/taxon.pl?20484.

10. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/plants. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.
11. Waterhouse, D. F. 1993. The Major Arthropod Pests and Weeds of Agriculture in 

Southeast Asia: Distribution, Importance and Origin. ACIAR Monograph No. 21, 

ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research) Canberra, Australia. 

141 pp. 

12. Wiersema, J. H., and B. Leon. 1999. World Economic Plants: A Standard Reference. 

CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 749 pp.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Kyllinga polyphylla Willd. ex Kunth13

Family: Cyperaceae13

Synonyms:

Kyllinga aromatica Ridley3

Kyllinga erecta Schumacher var. polyphylla (Kunth)3

Cyperus aromaticus (Ridl.) Mattf. & Kük13

Common names: Navua sedge, greater kyllinga, tuise tele, tuise fiti, greater kyllinga, shui 

wu gong

Distribution of plant:

South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles13, Australia, 

Brunei, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Martinique, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri 

Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam1,13. 

Distribution in the United States: none reported14

Damage potential of plant: 

Kyllinga polyphylla is recorded as a principal weed in Mauritius4

. It is an extremely 

aggressive and unpalatable plant, capable of smothering many tropical pasture species 
and having little value itself, reducing pasture production4

. It is a strong competitor for 

nutrients, light, and moisture at the same time, harbours rats, plant pests, and diseases. It 

is most aggressive in areas where rainfall exceeds 2500 mm annually. In areas with 

rainfall less than 2000 mm and a distinct dry season, K. polyphylla is usually confined to 

the wetter low-lying pastures and waste places. It does not establish in areas with a 

prolonged dry spell. There are records of occurrence in rice, pineapple, watermelon, and 

vegetables10. It is reported as a ‘widespread and very important’ weed in Fiji, French 

Polynesia and western Samoa11. In Australia, although previously restricted to 

Queensland, it is now occurring also in New South Wales5.

Kyllinga polyphylla has potential to enter the United States as a contaminant of grass seed 

and to become a weed of pastures and natural vegetation in any tropical region of the 

United States.

References:

1. Australian Weeds Committee. Noxious weed list for Australian States and Territories. 

Last accessed February, 2012, from http://www.weeds.org.au/noxious.htm.

2. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1982. Monocot Weeds 3. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 

50).

3. Haines, R.W. and Lye, K.A. 1983. The Sedges and Rushes of East Africa. East African 

Natural History Society, Nairobi. (p. 239).

4. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

5. Hosking, J. R., Groves, R. H. 1998. Recent naturalisations of species in Australia - some 

species which could become a problem in New South Wales. In: Michelmore, M. (ed.) 

Improving weed management for the 21st century. Proceedings of the 9th biennial 

noxious weeds conference, Dubbo, Australia, 16-18 September 1997. pp.58-63.

6. Hutchinson, J., Dalziel, J.M. and Hepper, F.N. 1972. Flora of West Tropical Africa. 

Volume 3 Part 2. Crown Agents, London. (p. 307).

7. Mune, T.L. and Parham, J.W. 1967. The Declared Noxious Weeds of Fiji and their 

Control. Third edition. 87 pp.Bulletin No. 48. Department of Agriculture, Fiji. (p. 64-68).

8. Parsons, W.T. and Cuthbertson, E.G. 1992. Noxious Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, 

Melbourne. (pp. 53-55).

9. Swarbrick, J. T. 1997. Weeds of the Pacific Islands. Technical paper No. 209. South 

Pacific Commission, Noumea, New Caledonia. 124 p. 

10. Waterhouse, D.F. 1993. The Major Arthropod Pests and Weeds of Agriculture of Southeast 
Asia. ACIAR, Canberra.

11. Waterhouse, D.F. 1997. The major invertebrate pests and weeds of agriculture and 

plantation forestry in the southern and western Pacific. The Australian Centre for 

International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 69pp. 

12. Whistler, W.A. 1983. Weed Handbook of Western Polynesia. GTZ, Eschborn, Germany. 

(p. 79).

13. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP), Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory (NGRL), Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed on February, 2012, Online at 

http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?447348.

14. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. Accessed February, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/plants. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Kyllinga pulchella Kunth5

Family: Cyperaceae1

Synonyms: Cyperus teneristolon Mattf. & Kük5

Common names: esaka4

Distribution of plant:

Africa5, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia4, Australia2

Distribution in the United States: none reported6

Damage potential of plant: 

Kyllinga pulchella was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using a 

model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range 

potential, damage potential and entry potential3

. K. pulchella is on the Australian alert list 

as a threat to bio-diversity and the environment. Propagating by rhizomes, stolons and 

seed, it is a significant weed of crops of the eastern African highlands, such as Kenya1,2,4. 

References:

1. Alert list for environmental weed. Weed Management Guide. 2003. Accessed January 

2012 online at: http://www.weeds.gov.au/publications/guidelines/alert/cteneristolon.html. 
2. Australian Government, Department of Environment and Heritage. Weeds on the 

National Environmental Alert List. Accessed January, 2012 online at

http://www.weeds.gov.au/cgi-bin/weeddetails.pl?taxon_id=67172.

3. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

4. Terry, P. J. and Michieka, R. W. 1987. Common Weeds of eastern Africa, Magugu ya 

Afrika Mashariki, FAO, Rome. 184pp.

5. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP), Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory (NGRL), Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed January 2012 online at 

http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?462795. 

6. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center (NPDC), Baton 

Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. Accessed January 2012 online at. 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/news.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Mollugo pentaphylla L.4

Family: Molluginaceae4

Synonyms: none reported4

Common names: mollugo4

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia4,Thailand, 

Pakistan, Myanmar, Korea, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea3

Distribution in the United States: none reported5

Damage potential of plant: 

Mollugo pentaphylla was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems 

using a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic 

range potential, damage potential and entry potential2

. A weed of rice, rubber 

plantations4, cultivated fields, wastes areas, lowlands and hills3, M. pentaphylla is a 

principal weed in Indonesia and Malaysia and a common weed in the Philippines, Japan, 

Thailand and Taiwan1. 

References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 391 pp.
2. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

3. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds, potential problems in the 

United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA, ARS, APHIS.

4. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 13, 2012 at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?423478

5. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed online February 13, 2012 at 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MOPE5#
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Myoporum tenuifolium G.Forst.3

Family: Scrophulariaceae3

Synonyms: none found 3 

Common names: none found 3

Distribution of plant:

New Caledonia3, South Africa, Portugal2, 5

Distribution in the United States: none reported4

Damage potential of plant: 

Myoporum tenuifolium was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems 

using a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic 

range potential, damage potential and entry potential1. In South Africa, it is prohibited 

with mandatory control2,5. This invasive tropical tree is reported as an aboriginal species 

with known ecological risk in Portugal5. 

References:

1. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

2. Plants of South Africa. Accessed February 15, 2012 online at 
http://www.plantzafrica.com/miscell/aliens4.htm 

3. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 15, 2012 online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?462804

4. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed February 15, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch

5. Yoshioka Toshiya. 2005. Invasive Plants Database: Accessed February 15, 2012 online at

http://invasive.m-fuukei.jp/sdetail.php?g=Myoporum&s=tenuifolium
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Ottochloa nodosa (Kunth) Dandy12, 13

Family: Poaceae13

Synonyms:

Panicum nodosum Kunth12, 13

Panicum arnottianum (Nees ex Steud.) 

Panicum aequabile Domin 

Panicum multinode J. Presl 

Panicum urochloides (Büse) Boerl. 

Ottochloa arnottiana (Nees ex Steud.) Dandy 

Digitaria divulsa Mez 

Digitaria urochloides Büse 

Hemigymnia multinodis Stapf 

Ichnanthus oblongus Hughes

Common names: Slender panic grass13 

Distribution of plant:

Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Zaire, China, Taiwan, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Indonesia, 

Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia 13, Mexico, New 

Guinea4, 9

Distribution in the United States: none reported14
Damage potential of plant: 

Ottochloa nodosa is recorded as a principal weed of Malaysia6. It is noted as one of the 

most problematic weeds in young rubber plantations in Indonesia11, and similarly

described as one of the dominant weeds in rubber and oil palm in Malaysia7. Based on its 

wide distribution and ability to invade plantation crops and forest margins it has potential 

to invade tropical regions of the United States.

References:

1. Barnes, D.E. and Chan, L.G. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and their Control. Ancom 

Berhad, Shah Alam, Malaysia. (pp. 60-61).

2. Bayer AG. 1982. Important Crops of the World and their Weeds. 2nd edition. Bayer AG., 

Leverkusen. 1682 pp.

3. Bor, N.L. 1960. The Grasses of Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan (excluding 

Bambusae) Pergamon Press, Oxford. (p. 318).

4. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1980. Grass Weeds 1. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 74).

5. Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. 2nd edition revised by 

Agnes Chase. USDA Miscellaneous Publication 200. 1051 pp. 

6. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

7. Lam, C. H., Lim, J. K. and Jantan, B. 1993. Comparative studies of a paraquat mixture 

and glyphosate and/or its mixtures on weed succession in plantation crops. Planter 69: 

525-535.

8. Mannetje, L.T., Ottochloa nodosa (Kunth) Dandy Plant Description. Accessed from the Food 

and Agriculture Organization Accessed February 15, 2012 .

http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/Gbase/data/pf000491.htm

9. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds. Potential problems in the 

United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA ARS APHIS. (p. 122).

10. Shukla, U. 1996. The Grasses of North-eastern India. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur. (pp. 

333-334).

11. Suryaningtyas, H. and Terry, P. J. 1993. Critical period of weed competition in rubber 

seedlings. Brighton crop protection conference, weeds. Proceedings of an international 

conference, Brighton, UK, 1993: 1177-1181. 
12. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. February 15, 2012 

http://www.tropicos.org/Name/25509799.

13. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 15, 2012 online at: http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?26178.

14. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Accessed February 15,2012 database 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=OTNO. National Plant Data Center, Baton 

Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

15. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. 749 pp. 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Persicaria thunbergii (Sieb. & Zucc.) H. Gross4

Family: Polygonaceae4

Synonym: Polygonum thunbergii Sieb. & Zucc 4

Common names: mizosoba5

Distribution of plant:

China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan3, Georgia, Russian Federation1

Distribution in the United States: none reported5

Damage potential of plant: 

Persicaria thunbergii was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems 

using a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic 

range potential, damage potential and entry potential2

. A thorny weed of wet areas3, P.

thunbergii is a principal weed of Japan1. 

References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 391 pp.

2. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397
3. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds, potential problems in the 

United States. USDA Agricultural Handbook No. 498.

4. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 14, 2012 online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?462808

5. USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA. Accessed February 14, 2012 online at 

http://plants.usda.gov/java/nameSearch.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Pycreus flavidus (Retz.) T. Koyama14

Family: Cyperaceae

Synonyms:

Cyperus flavidus Retz.15

Cyperus globosus All 15

Cyperus. flavidus Vahl8

Pycreus globosus Retz.8

Pycreus capillaris (J. Konig.) ex Retz. Nees.10

Common names: tiririca 14 

Distribution of plant:

Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, 

Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, 

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, 

Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New 

Guinea, Philippines, Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, 

Indonesia7

, Bulgaria, Switzerland3, China14.

Distribution in the United States: none reported16

Damage potential of plant: 

Pycreus flavidus is recorded as a principal weed of India, Japan and Taiwan5

. Pycreus

flavidus was identified as a potential threat to United States ecosystems using a model 

that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, geographic range potential, 
damage potential and entry potential12. It is a widespread and serious weed of rice, in a 

wide range of climates from tropical to temperate, with the ability to perennate and 

persist in any wet situation. It has serious potential to invade tropical and sub-tropical 

areas of the United States and cause harm in rice crops and in natural vegetation.

References:

1. Barnes, D.E. and Chan, L.G. 1990. Common Weeds of Malaysia and their Control. Ancom 

Berhad, Shah Alam, Malaysia. (pp. 108-109).

2. Bayer AG. 1982. Important Crops of the World and their Weeds. 2nd edition. Bayer AG., 

Leverkusen. 1682 pp.

3. DeFilippi, R.A. 1980. 7. Cyperus L. In: Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., 

Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. and Webb, D.A. (eds.) Flora Europaea, 

Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones). Cambridge University Press. 

(p. 287).

4. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1982. Monocot Weeds 3. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 

50).

5. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

6. Islam, M. 1989. Aquatic Weeds of North-east India. International Book Distributors, Dehra 

Dun, India. (p. 52).

7. Kostermans, A.J.G.H., Wirjahardja, S. and Dekker, R.J. 1987. The weeds: description, 

ecology and control. In: Soerjani, M., Kostermans, A.J.G.H. and Tjitrosoepomo, G. (eds.) 

Weeds of Rice in Indonesia. SEAMEO, BIOTROP (pp. 170-171) .

8. Mobot. 2000. W3TROPICOS data base. Missouri Botanic Garden. Accessed February 

21, 2012 http://www.tropicos.org/Name/9909691

9. Morita, H. 1997. Handbook of Arable Weeds of Japan. Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. 

(p. 48). 

10. Noltie, H.J. 2000. Flora of Bhutan including a record of plants from Sikkim and Darjeeling. 

Volume 3 Part 1. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. (p. 322).

11. Numata, M. and Yoshikawa, N. (eds.) 1975. Weed Flora of Japan Illustrated by Colour. 

Zenkoku Noson Kyporku Kyokai. (p. 326).

12. Parker. C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397
13. Randall, Rod P. 2002. A Global Compendium of of Weeds. Published by R.G. and F.J. 

Richardson, PO Box 42, Meredith, Victoria 3333, Australia. Accessed February 14, 2012 

at: http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/pycreus_flavidus/.

14. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds. Potential problems in the 

United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA ARS APHIS. (p. 175). 

15. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 14, 2012 online at: http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?409595.

16. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS database. Accessed February 14, 2012 at

http://plants.usda.gov/java/. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.

17. Wang, Z., Xin, M. and Ma, D. (eds.) 1990. Farmland Weeds of China. Agricultural 

Publishing House. (p. 468).

18. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. 749 pp. 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Rubus alceifolius Poir5,6,7 

Family: Rosaceae5, 7

Synonyms:

Rubus fimbriifer Focke5, 7

Rubus alceaefolius Poir.4

Common names: giant bramble7, cu ye xuan gou zi 7

Distribution of plant:

China, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam7

, Australia, La 

Reunion1, 3

Distribution in the United States: none reported8

Damage potential of plant: 

R. alceifolius is recorded by as a principal weed or noxious weed in Australia1,4. Risk 

assessment by the Australian method gave a score of 115. It is also listed by the 

International Union for Conservation of Nature among the top 100 invasive species (35 

plant species) of the world2.

Normally found on road shoulders and the edges of rainforest R. alceifolius readily 
invades developing pastures, particularly on newly cleared lands. Because of the rate of 

vegetative growth and its barbed canes, it forms impenetrable thickets which reduce 

pasture productivity and may limit access to water. Its fruit, though edible, has no 

commercial value4. In Reunion, it is one of the eight most threatening plant invaders to 

become established on the island, occurring not only on sites disturbed by man but also in 

primary forest with minimal disturbance

3

. It is spread when birds and animals eat the 

fruits and by rooting at the tips of arching shoots. Control involves heavy cultivations 

and/or repeated use of potent herbicides, including imazapyr or triclopyr.

R. alceifolius is an extremely unpleasant weed species with potential for serious impact 

on natural vegetation in tropical and subtropical regions of the United States.

References:

1. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

2. IUCN 2000. Invasive Species Specialist Group. International Union for Conservation of 

Nature. Accessed February 2012 Online at 

http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1265&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN

3. Macdonald, I. A. W., Thébaud, C., Strahm, W. A. and Strasberg, D. 1991. Effects of 

alien plant invasions on native vegetation remnants on La Réunion (Mascarene Islands, 

Indian Ocean). Environmental Conservation 1991, 18: 51-61.

4. Parsons, W. T. and Cuthbertson, E. G. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, 

Melbourne/Sydney. (pp. 575-577).

5. PIER. 2001. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk (PIER) website. Accessed February 2012

online: http://www.hear.org/pier/species/rubus_alceifolius.htm.

6. Queensland. 2010. Giant bramble Rubus alceifolius. DNR facts pest series. PP 24. Agdex 

646. Dept. of Natural Resources, Queensland Government. Accessed February 2012 via 

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/documents/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/IPA-GiantBramble-PP24.pdf.

7. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources 

Information Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources 

Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Accessed February 2012 Online at: < http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?32252.

8. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS database. Accessed February 2012 online

<http://plants.usda.gov/java/>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 

USA.
9. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. 749 pp. 
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

The following information is extracted from the Weed Science Society of America’s invasive 

plant fact sheets as a contract product of APHIS, USDA. Please refer to the following link for 

more information. http://wssa.net/Weeds/Invasive/FactSheets/index.htm

Quarantine Pest Plant: Sagittaria pygmaea Miq.10

Family: Alismataceae10

Synonyms: none found 10

Common names: pygmy arrowhead, dwarf arrowhead, seta-ana10

Distribution of plant:

China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan9, 10, 12

Distribution in the United States: none reported11

Damage potential of plant: 

Sagittaria pygmaea is recorded as a principal weed of Japan5

. In China a combination of 

Juncellus serotinus and S. pygmaea reduced rice yield by 55%14. In Korea, S. pygmaea is 

among the most serious weeds of mechanically transplanted rice and in butachlor-treated 

rice1, 8

. S. pygmaea is among the most troublesome perennial weeds of rice in Japan4. It is 

one of the most serious weeds of rice in Taiwan2 and other Asian countries. 

It is not readily controlled by standard herbicide treatments and represents a significant 

threat to rice cultivation in the United States, with additional potential to invade wetlands. 
References:

1. Chae JeCheon and Guh JaOck. 1999. Occurrence and control of weeds in direct-seeded 

rice paddy in Korea. Journal of Weed Science and Technology 44: 391-404.

2. Chiang, Y. J. and Leu, L. S. 1987. Effect of application timing and residual period of 

Londax on main paddy weeds in Taiwan. Proceedings, 11th Asian Pacific Weed Science 

Society Conference., 1987, pp.223-231.

3. Häfliger, E. and Scholz, H. 1982. Monocot Weeds 3. Documenta Ciba-Geigy, Basel. (p. 

84).

4. Harada, J. and Sumiyoshi, T. 1990. Some problems in the control of perennial weeds of 

paddy fields in the Tohoku region. Report of the Tohoku Branch, the Crop Science 

Society of Japan, 1990, No.33, pp.4-7.

5. Holm, L.G., Pancho, J.V., Herberger, J.P. and Plucknett, D.L. 1979. A Geographical 

Atlas of World Weeds. New York, USA: John Wiley and Sons. 391 pp.

6. Morita, H. 1997. Handbook of Arable Weeds of Japan. Kumiai Chemical Industry Co., 

Ltd. 128 Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds. Potential problems in 

the United States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA ARS APHIS. (p. 23).

7. Numata, M. and Yoshikawa, N. (eds.) 1975. Weed Flora of Japan Illustrated by Colour. 

Zenkoku Noson Kyporku Kyokai. (p. 255).

8. Park KwangHo. 1999. GIS application in weed management system. 3. Weed population 

changes of rice paddy field as affected by herbicides. Korean Journal of Weed Science 

19: 98-104.

9. Reed, C.F. 1977. Economically Important Foreign Weeds. Potential problems in the United 

States. Agricultural Handbook No. 498. USDA ARS APHIS. (p. 13).

10. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2001. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, 

Maryland. Available: http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?401824.

11. USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS database. Accessed February 2012 online

<http://plants.usda.gov/java/>. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490

USA.

12. Wang, Z., Xin, M. and Ma, D. (eds.) 1990. Farmland Weeds of China. Agricultural 

Publishing House. (p. 385).

13. Wiersma, J.H. and Leon, B. 1999. World Economic Plants: a standard reference. CRC 

Press, Boca Raton. (p. 209).
14. Wu JingLun and Zhou HengChang. 2000. Rice yield loss caused by weed combination 

Juncellus serotinus + Sagittaria pygmaea. Jiangsu Journal of Agricultural Sciences.16: 

88-91.
United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Plant Protection and Quarantine

Plants for Planting Quarantine Pest Evaluation Data Sheet 

January 9th, 2013

In order to prevent the introduction of quarantine pests into the United States, § 319.37-2a allows 

the APHIS Administrator to designate the importation of certain taxa of plants for planting as not 

authorized pending pest risk analysis (NAPPRA). APHIS has determined that the following 

plant taxon should be added to the NAPPRA category. In accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of 

that section, this data sheet details the scientific evidence APHIS evaluated in making the 

determination that the taxon is a quarantine pest plant.

Quarantine Pest Plant: Tarchonanthus camphoratus L.8

Family: Asteraceae (alt. Compositae)8

Synonyms: 

Tarchonanthus camphoratus var. litakunensis (DC) Harv.8

Tarchonanthus minor Less 1

Common names: camphorwood8

Distribution of plant:

Australia1

, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Angola Zimbabwe, Botswana,

Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Saudi Arabia8

Distribution in the United States: none reported9

Damage potential of plant: 

Tarchonanthus camphoratus was identified as a potential threat to United States 

ecosystems using a model that prioritized pest plants based on their invasive potential, 

geographic range potential, damage potential and entry potential7. T. camphoratus is a 

tropical and sub-tropical multi-stemmed shrub that grows in semi-arid Africa and 

Arabia10. The wooly fruits are blown along the ground, thus dispersing the seeds which 

germinate easily4. It grows quickly after fire, excluding other species and preventing the 

re-establishment of forest. Because it is an invasive colonizer

2 and unpalatable, it is 

considered a pest of rangeland10. T. camphorates is listed as a quarantine weed by 

Western Australia1

.

 It may cause lung damage if swallowed6

.

 
References:

1. A Global Compendium of Weeds. Accessed February 15, 2012. Available on the Internet 

at http://www.hear.org/gcw/species/tarchonanthus_camphoratus/.

2. Agroforestry Tree Database. Accessed February 15, 2012. Available online at

http://www.worldagroforestry.org/Sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID

=17949.

3. Ebtesma, S. et al. 2002. Sesquiterpenes From Tarchonanthus camphorates: An 

Alternative Natural Source of Parthenolide and of Feverfew (Tanacetum Parthunium). 

Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1. 

4. Ecoport. Accessed February 15, 2012 Available online at 

http://ecoport.org/perl/ecoport15.pl?searchType=entityDisplay&entityId=10292. 

5. Invasive and Exotic Species. Accessed February 15, 2012. Available online at

http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=10889.

6. Material Safety Data Sheet. Accessed February 15, 2012. Available online at 

http://www.libertynatural.com/msd/938.htm.

7. Parker, C., Caton, B.P., & Fowler, L. 2007. Ranking Nonindigenous Weed Species by 

Their Potential to Invade the United States. Weed Science 55:386-397

8. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information 

Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, 

Beltsville,Maryland Accessed on February 15, 2012, Online at http://www.arsgrin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxon.pl?80052.

9. USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database <http://plants.usda.gov/java/>, February 

15, 2012. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

10. Young, Truman P. and C. Francombe. 1991. Growth and yield estimates in natural stands 

of leleshwa (Tarchonanthus camphorates). Forest Ecology and Management, 41:309-

321. Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam.