Nancy and I were walking on the trail the other day, and noticed LOTS of this grass growing.  I asked Seek to identify it for us, and learned that it is called Japanese Stiltgrass.  So when I got home I looked it up, and this is what I found.

 

Its botanical name is Microstegium vimineum.  It is an annual grass with common names like Packing grass and Nepalese browntop, and has adapted itself to live in low light conditions.  Stiltgrass is native to South and East Asia, and has become an invasive species here.  This is what I read in Wikipedia:  

 

 

White tail deer don't browse the Stiltgrass, but eat other species nearby, opening the space for the Stiltgrass to spread and take over.  It is also a common habitat for ticks, so be sure to check your feet and legs after wading through the tall grass.  

 

I have always loved seeing this greenery growing on the forest floor.  Now, maybe not so much.  But, it's better to know than not know.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!