Quackgrass

September 4, 2015

Elymus repens (L.) Gould

Life cycle

Erect, rhizomatous perennial.

quackgrass patch
Patch of quackgrass.

Leaves

Leaves are rolled in the bud, hairless to sparsely hairy above and up to 8 inches long. Leaf sheaths are hairless except those near the base, which may be sparsely hairy. Clasping, claw-like auricles are present at the collar region.

Ligule

Very short, membranous ligule.

Stems

Erect and clump-forming, up to 4 feet tall. Plants spread by thin, yellowish to white, sharp-tipped rhizomes.

quackgrass rhizome
Sharp-tipped rhizome of quackgrass.

Flowers and fruit

The seedhead is a two- to 10-inch-long, slender, unbranched spike made up of several alternating spikelets arranged edgewise on the stem. Each spikelet contains up to eight straw-colored, lance-shaped seeds. Each seed has a short to prominent awn.

quackgrass seedhead
Quackgrass seedhead.

Reproduction

Seeds and rhizomes.

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