Quackgrass

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Quackgrass spikelets

Quackgrass

Quackgrass

Quackgrass

Quackgrass spikelets

Quackgrass

Morphology

Culm

Erect to decumbent, branched at base, hollow, glabrous, bright green or waxy.

Blades

Mostly flat, 3 to 12 inches long, 1/10 to 1/2 inch wide, bright green, sparsely soft-hairy above, smooth beneath, surfaces ridged or unridged; auricles prominent.

Sheath

Usually shorter than internodes, glabrous or lower sheaths sparsely soft-hairy.

Ligule

Very short, membranous, truncate.

Inflorescence

Spike, erect, slender or stout, loose to compact, 2-sided, 2 to 7 inches long.

Spikelets

Arranged in 2 rows, usually single at each node, erect, sessile, nearly cylindric or slightly compressed, 3-8-flowered, 2/5 to 3/5 inch long, spikelet side toward rachis; glumes shorter than spikelets, opposite or placed edge to edge on outer side of spikelet, lanceolate, 1/5 to 1/2 inch long, 3-7-nerved, slightly leathery and rigid, gradually tapering into awn or awn-point; lemmas 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, upper progressively shorter, rounded on back, strongly nerved, awnless or awns to 1/4 inch long.

Ecology

Habitat

Disturbed areas, pastures, roadsides, fields, lawns, and gardens; moist soils.

Distribution

East 1/3 of Kansas.

Reproduction

By seeds and rhizomes.

Practical Information

Forage Value

Provides fair forage for livestock and deer and can be used for hay.

Uses

Turkeys and prairie chickens eat the seeds.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.