Heteropogon contortus
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Plantae
Magnoliophyta
Liliopsida
Cyperales
Poaceae
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
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Summary
Heteropogon contortus is a thick, fast growing perennial grass, whose stems reach 1.2 meters high. A native of South Africa, southern Asia, northern Australia and Oceania, it has become a weed in the tropics and subtropics of the American continent and in east Asia . It is abundant in regions where rainfall is less than 800mm. Rarely cultivated, it grows spontaneously wherever grasslands suffer from seasonal fires. It resists fire very well and can lead to the formation of savannahs.

Principal source:

Compiler: Comité français de l'UICN (IUCN French Committee) & IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Review:

Publication date: 2008-04-01

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2026) Species profile: Heteropogon contortus. Downloaded from http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Heteropogon+contortus on 09-01-2026.

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Heteropogon contortus
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
Informations on Heteropogon contortus has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Heteropogon contortus in information
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Impact information
Red List assessed species 0:
Management information
Bibliography
4 references found for Heteropogon contortus

Management information
General information
Gargominy, O., Bouchet, P., Pascal, M., Jaffre, T. and Tourneu, J. C. 1996. Consequences des introductions d'especes animals et vegetales sur la biodiversite en Nouvelle-Caledonie. Rev. Ecol. (Terre Vie) 51: 375-401.
Summary: Consequences to the biodiversity of New Caledonia of the introduction of plant and animal species.
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 2008. Online Database Heteropogon contortus (L.) Beauv. ex Roemer & J.A. Schultes
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and bioscience articles from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=41763 [Accessed 1 April 2008]
MacKee, H.S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultiv�es en Nouvelle-Cal�donie, 2nd edn. MNHN, Paris.
Summary: Cet ouvrage liste 1412 taxons (esp�ces, sous esp�ces et vari�t�s) introduits en Nouvelle-Cal�donie. L auteur pr�cise dans la majorit� des cas si l esp�ce est cultiv�e ou naturalis�e.
Meyer, Jean-Yves & Loope, Lloyd & Sheppard, A. & Munzinger, Jérôme & Jaffré, Tanguy. (2006). Les plantes envahissantes et potentiellement envahissantes dans l'archipel néo-calédonien : première évaluation et recommandantions de gestion.
Contact
The following 3 contacts offer information an advice on Heteropogon contortus
Barthelat,
Fabien
Organization:
Assistant Technique Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature Initiative Cara�bes
Address:
C/O Parc National de Guadeloupe Habitation Beausoleil, Mont�ran 97120 Saint-Claude, Guadeloupe
Phone:
(+590) (0)590 80 86 00
Fax:
(+590) (0)590 80 05 46
Lavergne,
Christophe
Geographic region: Indian Ocean
Ecosystem: Terrestrial
Organization:
Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin
Address:
2 rue du P�re Georges Domaine des Colima�ons 97436 SAINT LEU
Phone:
(33) 02 62 24 92 27
Fax:
Meyer,
Jean-Yves
Geographic region: Pacific, Indian Ocean
Ecosystem: Terrestrial
Expert in the botany of French Polynesia and the Pacific Islands, and has worked on ecology and biological control of Miconia calvescens in French Polynesia.
Organization:
D�l�gation � la Recherche
Address:
D�l�gation � la Recherche, Gouvernement de Polyn�sie fran�aise. B.P. 20981, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, Polyn�sie fran�aise
Phone:
689 47 25 60
Fax:
Heteropogon contortus
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Recommended citation
(2026). Heteropogon contortus. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).