Plant
Panic Veldtgrass
Ehrharta erectaAlso known as Erect Veldtgrass, Panic Veld Grass
Panic veldtgrass is a vigorous, shade-tolerant perennial grass that forms dense tufts and smothers native understory plants. It reproduces rapidly through both abundant seed production and rooting at lower stem nodes, often flowering and setting seed multiple times per year. Native to southern Africa and Yemen, it has become a disruptive invasive weed across temperate regions worldwide.
InvasivePerennialGrass
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis via sunlight, water, and soil nutrients)
Predators
- Grazing livestock
- Feral rabbits
- Herbivorous insects
ThreatsTargeted mechanical weeding, herbicide application, and habitat restoration
HabitatsRiparian woodlands, coastal scrub, urban parklands, and disturbed roadsides
Life spanPerennial; typically 2–5 years
Classification
- FamilyPoaceae
- SpeciesEhrharta erecta
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Footwear Check: Clean boots and gear thoroughly after hiking through infested areas to avoid spreading seeds.
- Identification: Look for bright green, crinkled leaf margins and delicate, open flowering panicles that persist through winter.
- Removal Etiquette: Hand-pull individual clumps before seed set, ensuring the root crown is completely removed.
Neighbor (c) Franco Folini, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by Leah Gardner · cc0
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