the grass spreads primarily via its rhizome. it has been noted to grow in length per day. the stems and rhizomes also produce tillers. the rhizome can endure drying and flooding. dry or wet conditions may reduce the number of shoots produced by the rhizome, but they do not kill it. the rhizome can disperse when parts of it break off and drop onto the substrate elsewhere, anchoring and putting up new shoots. the plant survives and sprouts after herbicide application, grazing, cutting, plowing or disking, and burning. the grass rarely reproduces by seed. it has been noted to reproduce by seed in portugal, but does not do so in the united states, and it was described as "incapable of fruiting" in japan. seeds are sometimes observed but they are apparently rarely viable, with many studies describing zero germination.