Tumblegrass

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Tumblegrass blades

Tumblegrass inflorescence

Tumblegrass spikelets

Tumblegrass ligule

Tumblegrass flowering

Tumblegrass

Tumblegrass blades

Tumblegrass inflorescence

Tumblegrass

Tumblegrass flowering

Tumblegrass

Tumblegrass

Morphology

Culm

Erect or decumbent at base, solid, somewhat flattened, rough, curving or arching, more so above; base branched.

Blades

Mainly basal, ascending or arched, flat, wavy, .8 to 4.4 inches long, 1/25 to 1/9 inch wide, smooth, midrib prominent; margins narrowly white, rough with fine teeth; base gradually narrowed; blades twist spirally when mature.

Sheath

Crowded at base, loose, open to base, keeled, smooth to rough; margin membranous, continuous with ligule.

Ligule

Membrane, glabrous, whitish, 1/25 to 1/6 inch long, tapering-pointed.

Inflorescence

Panicle of widely spaced spikes, 2 to 20+ inches long, 1/2 to 3/4 length of plant; spikes 2-14, stiff, slender, separated .8 to 6+ inches, arranged pinnately and alternately along rachis, curving at maturity; terminal spike at tip.

Spikelets

Variable, numerous, sessile, narrow, 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, flattened, in 2 rows alternating on rachis, 1-flowered; glumes slightly unequal, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1/16 to 1/5 inch long, stiff, 1-nerved; tips sharply pointed, awned; lemmas narrowly lanceolate, 1/8 to 1/5 inch long, longer than body of second glume, rigid, 3-nerved, slightly pubescent; back rounded; tips tapering to sharp points; unawned.

Ecology

Habitat

Open, disturbed sites, roadsides, pastures, dry prairies; various soil types.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Reproduction

By seeds.

Practical Information

Forage Value

Very limited forage value. Tumble grass is not abundant and the forage quality is poor.

Additional Notes