Weed of the Week

4-7-08

Quackgrass, Elytrigia repens

           

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 Characteristics:

Family: Poaceae (Grass family)

Origin: Mediterranean area

Description:

• Aggressive perennial

• Reproduces by seed and spreads via rhizomes

Stems:

• Rigid 1-3 feet tall

Flowers:

• Florets (flower) are awnless or with short straight awns (bristles)

Leaves:

• Blades 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide

• Leaves are often constricted near the top

• Have auricles (ear like appendages) at the junction of blade and sheath

Fruit:

• Spikelets in two long rows flat to the stem

Additional information: Quackgrass is extremely good at penetrating hard soils and can even penetrate into the tuber or roots of other plants.  Spread over much of North America and well adapted to North American climates.  Quack grass is thought to be Allelopathic (produces chemicals that suppress the growth of other plants) and is a nuisance in pastureland, cropland, lawns and rangeland.  Extremely difficult to control because of it's ability to reproduce via broken rhizomes.

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