Characteristics of Common Grass Weed Seedlings
Some common grass weed seedlings with their identifying vegetative
characteristics follow:
Wild Oat
| Leaf blade |
rolled in round bud shoot; smooth; usually hairless, except
ciliate (stiff, bristle-like hairs) often appear along lower edges
|
|
Leaf sheath
|
often pubescent (finely and densely hairy); open, with
overlapping margins
|
|
Collar
|
broad; smooth
|
|
Auricles
|
absent
|
|
Ligule
|
membranous; prominent; acute
|
|
Growth habit
|
annual
|
Green foxtail
|
Leaf blade
|
rolled in round bud shoot; smooth; finely veined
|
|
Leaf sheath
|
hairy; open, with overlapping margins and ciliate (stiff,
bristle-like hairs) on outer margins
| |
Collar
|
continuous (not divided by midvein)
| |
Auricles
|
absent
| |
Ligule
|
a fringe of hairs 1 to 2 cm long; fused at the base, with longer
hairs at collar margin
| |
Growth habit
|
annual
|
Yellow foxtail
| Leaf blade |
rolled in a flattened bud shoot; smooth except for several
prominent whitish hairs near base on upper surface
|
| Leaf sheath |
smooth; flattened; sharply keeled (ridged at midvein)
|
| Collar |
continuous (not divided by midvein); smooth |
|
Auricles |
absent |
| Ligule |
a fringe of hairs up to 1 mm long |
| Growth habit |
annual |
Giant foxtail
| Leaf blade |
rolled in a round bud shoot; pubescent (finely and densely
hairy) on upper leaf surface, scattered hairs on lower surface; distinctly
but finely veined |
| Leaf sheath |
hairy; slightly flattened, keeled (ridged at mid-vein); open
with ciliate (stiff, bristle-like hairs) on margins |
| Collar |
continuous (not divided by midvein) |
| Auricles |
absent |
| Ligule |
a fringe of hairs 1 to 2 mm long; fused at the base; longer hairs
at collar margin |
| Growth habit |
annual |
Crabgrass, large
| Leaf blade |
rolled in a round bud shoot; hairy on both surfaces; keeled
(ridged) below |
| Leaf sheath |
very hairy; open |
| Collar |
broad; divided by midvein; hairy on outside edges |
| Auricles |
absent |
| Ligule |
membranous; prominent; rounded to acute (tapering to a point);
slightly undulate (wavy-edged) on margin |
| Growth habit |
annual |
Barnyardgrass
| Leaf blade |
rolled in a flattened bud shoot; smooth; keeled (ridged) below |
| Leaf sheath |
smooth; flattened; keeled; open |
| Collar |
broad; continuous (not divided by midvein); yellowish-green; smooth |
| Auricles |
absent |
| Ligule |
absent |
| Growth habit |
annual |
Quackgrass
| Leaf blade |
rolled in a round bud shoot; rough on upper surface; may be
somewhat hairy |
| Leaf sheath |
round; open with overlapping margins; usually pubescent
(finely and densely hairy) |
| Collar |
distinct; divided by midvein |
| Auricles |
present; claw-like; slender |
| Ligule |
membranous; short |
| Growth habit |
perennial from whitish rhizomes (underground horizontal stems
from which new plants can arise) |
Produced by Communication and Educational Technology Services, University of
Minnesota Extension.
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