Identifying Grass Weeds  Stem/culm  Node  Leaf  Sheath  Collar  Blade  Midrib

Vernation  Vernation is a term used to describe how the youngest grass leaves are arranged in the shoot  Folded vernation  Leaves that are folded in the shoot and appear V- shaped in shoots that are cut in half across the width (cross-sectioned)  Rolled vernation  Leaves are circular or “rolled" in the shoot and do not have folds  Determining vernation:  Roll test  Cross-section

Ligules and Auricles  Ligules are membranous or hairy tissues located at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath  Ligules can be membranous, a fringe of hairs, or absent  Auricles are slender extensions of the collar and are located at the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath  Auricles can be long and clasp around the stem or shoot, small or rudimentary, or absent

Growth habit and inflorescence (seed head) PanicleSpike Raceme Rhizomatous Bunch Stoloniferous

Green foxtail  Scientific name: Setaria viridis  Family: Poaceae  Life cycle: Annual  Where found: Cropland  Physical description:  Seed: 1-2 mm, pale lemma covering seed  Seedling blade: broad and arched  Leaf blades mostly hairless  Vernation: round  Ligule: hairy  Inflorescence: compact panicle  Fibrous root system  Interesting facts:  Latin name describes inflorescence  Seta =bristle, viridis =green  Also called green bristlegrass

Jointed goatgrass  Scientific name: Aegilops cyclindra  Family: Poaceae  Life cycle: Annual  Where found: Cropland  Physical description:  Seed: attaches firmly to lemma and palea at each joint  Seedling blade: first blade tall, narrow and vertical  Leaf blades with long hairs on margins of blade and collar  Vernation: round  Ligule: membranous with toothed margin  Inflorescence: columnar spikelet with distinctive joints  Fibrous root system  Interesting facts:  May behave as a winter annual in some areas  Known to hybridize with wheat

Quackgrass  Scientific name: Agropyron repens ( aka Elytrigia repens)  Family: Poaceae  Life cycle: Perennial  Where found: Range, Cropland  Physical description:  Seed: resemble wheat; slender, elongate, tan  Seedling blade: first blade tall, narrow and vertical  Leaf blades mostly hairless, often constricted at the tip  Vernation: round  Ligule: short, membranous  Clasping auricle  Inflorescence: spike  Aggressive, rhizomatous root system  Interesting facts:  Latin name describes resemblance to wheat and creeping root systems  Agropyron =wild wheat; repens =creeping  Also called couchgrass

Wild oat  Scientific name: Avena fatua  Family: Poaceae  Life cycle: Annual  Where found: Cropland  Physical description:  Seed: long with twisted awn attached to lemma  Seedling blade: first blade tall, narrow, vertical  Older leaf blades have long hairs on margins of blade and collar; stems nearly hairless  Vernation: round  Ligule: membranous, tall, slightly toothed  Inflorescence: open panicle with drooping spikelets  Fibrous root system  Interesting facts:  Awn helps plants twist into the soil  Twisted when dry, straightens when wet  Plant may grow 4 feet tall