Plant Identification

COLONIAL BENTGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, sharp points, ridged on top, slightly keeled, scabrous top and margins.
Sheath: Round, split, smooth.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, short, 0.3 to 1.2 mm. Minutely hairy on back
Collar: Distinct, narrow, oblique

CANADA BLUEGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, flat or slightly V-shaped, keeled, tapering to boat shaped tip. Smooth, bluish 003366, somewhat glaucous, margins slighly scabrous, two distinct lines may be seen along midrib by transmitted light.
Sheath: Strongly compressed, sharply keeled, smooth, split.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, 0.2 to 1.2 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Narrow, smooth, divided by midrib

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, usually V-shaped, keeled, parallel sided, abruptly narrowing to boat shaped tip, sometimes minutely pubescent, margins smooth to slightly scabrous, two distinct light lines may be seen along midrib by transmitted light.
Sheath: Compressed, slightly keeled, smooth, closed when young, later split.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, very short 0.2 to 0.6 mm in length.
Auricles: NONE
Collar: Medium broad, slightly divided by midrib, may have fine hairs on margins.

SHADY BLUEGRASS

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, flat, slightly tapering from base to tip, narrowly boat shaped tip, keeled, glossy, smooth to slightly scabrous underside, slightly scabrous upper side, median lines not prominent, margins scabrous near tips, bright 003366 color.
Sheath: Compressed, sharply keeled, usually scabrous, split part way, 003366 or purple tinted.
Ligule: Acute, membranous, sometimes ciliate, t to 6 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Distinct, broad, glabrous, divided by midrib.

SMOOTH BROMEGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, top and bottom surfaces smooth, margins smooth to rough.
Sheath: Round, smooth, closed to near top, occasionally short, hairy on lower sheath
Ligule: Membranous, truncate to rounded, 1mm.
Auricles: None
Collar: Medium broad, divided.

CREEPING RED FESCUE:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, thick, V-shaped to closely folded, 1.5 to 3 mm wide, deeply ridged on upper surface, smooth lower surface, smooth margins.
Sheath: Split part way, not compressed or keeled, sometimes finely pubescent.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, 0.5mm long
Auricles: None
Collar: Narrow, continuous, smooth, indistinct.
Rhizomes: Short, sometimes strong.

CHEWINGS FESCUE:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, thick, V-shaped to closely folded, 1.5 to 3 mm wide, deeply ridged on upper surface, smooth lower surface, smooth margins.
Sheath: Split part way, not compressed or keeled, sometimes finely pubescent.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, 0.5mm long
Auricles: None
Collar: Narrow, continuous, smooth, indistinct.

MEADOW FESCUE:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, bright 003366, upper surface dull, scabrous, prominently ridged, lower surface glossy smooth, margins scabrous, 3 to 8 mm wide.
Sheath: Not compressed, not keeled, smooth, split, reddish to purple at base.
Ligule: Truncate to obtuse, short, 0.2 to 0.5 mm long.
Auricles: Claw like or blunt.
Collar: Broad, distinct, smooth

SHEEP FESCUE:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, narrow, smooth thorough above, deeply ridged on upper surface, pale bluish 003366, glaucous.
Sheath: Flattened, split, smooth or short hairy.
Ligule: Rounded, membranous, 0.3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Indistinct, medium broad, divided.

HARD FESCUE:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, narrow, smooth thorough above, deeply ridged on upper surface, pale bluish 003366, glaucous. Wider and tougher than sheep fescue
Sheath: Flattened, split, smooth or short hairy.
Ligule: Rounded, membranous, 0.3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Indistinct, medium broad, divided.

TALL FESCUE:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, smooth to rough top surface, glossy lower surface, prominent midrib and veins, margins scabrous.
Sheath: Round, generally smooth, split.
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, 0.4 to 1.2 mm long.
Auricles: Small, short, pubescent (NOTE: absence of hairs on annual and perennial ryegrass auricles).
Collar: Broad, dived, somewhat hairy on margins.

ORCHARDGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, V-shaped in cross section at base, sharply keeled, taper to an acute point, margins almost smooth to scabrous, deep furrow over midrib.
Sheath: Smooth, open
Ligule: Truncate, membranous, often with point at apex, 2 to 10mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Distinct, smooth, broad, divided.

REDTOP:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, flat, taper to sharp points, up to 10 mm wide, ridged prominently on upper surface, rough top and bottom, rough margins.
Sheath: Round, split, smooth.
Ligule: Rounded to acute, membranous, 1.5 o 5 mm.
Auricles: None.
Collar: Prominent, smooth, divided, could be oblique.

REED CANARYGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, flat, sharp pointed, smooth or rarely sparsely hairy at base, indistinctly ridged upper surface, midrib prominent on lower surface, margins scabrous.
Sheath: Not compressed, split, smooth, not hairy.
Ligule: Acute to obtuse, white papery, membranous, minutely hairy on back, 2 to 5 mm long.
Auricles: None.
Collar: Distinct, smooth, continuous, oblique.

ANNUAL RYEGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, soft, bright 003366, upper surface dull, prominently ridged, lower surface smooth, glossy, slightly keeled, smooth margins.
Sheath: Not compressed or keeled, smooth, split, 003366, pinkish at base.
Ligule: Obtuse, membranous, 0.5 to 2 mm long.
Auricles: Pointed, blunt, sometimes claw like.
Collar: Broad, distinct, continuous, smooth, pale to yellowish-003366.

PERENNIAL RYEGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, bright 003366, keeled, prominently ridged upper surface, smooth and glossy lower surface, margins slightly scabrous.
Sheath: Usually compressed, sometimes almost cylindrical, smooth, pale 003366, reddish at base, closed or split.
Ligule: Truncate to obtuse, membranous, may be toothed near apex, 0.5 to 2 mm long.
Auricles: Small, soft, slaw like.

TIMOTHY:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, flat, sharp pointed, smooth, ridges on upper surface low and rounded, margins scabrous.
Sheath: Closed, smooth
Ligule: Obtuse to acute, distinct notch on either side, 1 to 4.5 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Distinct, broad, continuous, margins scabrous.

CRESTED WHEATGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot; light bluish 003366, flat, slightly involute, taper to sharp points, prominent veins, soft pubescence on upper surface, scabrous margins.
Sheath: Round, split, smooth.
Ligule: Membranous, truncate, lacerate, to 1.5 mm.
Auricles: Claw-like.
Collar: Divided, light or yellowish 003366, smooth to ciliate.

BUFFALOGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, distinct veins, few long hairs on both surfaces, usually less than 3 mm wide.
Sheath: Round, split, smooth.
Ligule: Short fringe of hairs.
Auricles: None
Collar: Narrow, indistinct, long hairs at mouth.

BERMUDAGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, soft, sharp pointed, smooth to sparsely pubescent, scabrous margins.
Sheath: Compressed to round, split, loose, smooth to sparsely hairy, tuft of hairs at throat.
Ligule: Fringe of hairs, 2 to 5 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Narrow, continuous, smooth, hairy on margins.

CENTIPEDEGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, compressed or flattened, 3 to 5 mm wide, short, keeled, ciliate with margins papillose toward base, otherwise smooth.
Sheath: Smooth with grayish tufts at throat, very compressed, margins overlap.
Ligule: Short, membranous with cilia, cilia longer than membrane, total length about 0.5 mm.
Auricles: None.
Collar: Broad, continuous, constructed by keel, pubescent, ciliate, tufted at lower edge.

DALLIGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, flat, keeled, tapering to rounded narrow base, smooth or with few hairs near base of plant.
Sheath: Slightly keeled, compressed, split, often pilose near base of plant.
Ligule: Acute to obtuse, membranous, 2 to 5 mm long.
Auricles: None.
Collar: Smooth narrow to broad, continuous, often hairy on margins.

SAINT AUGUSTINEGRASS:

Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, commonly smooth, bluntly obtuse.
Sheath: Keeled, compressed, loose, slightly ciliate towards top and along margins.
Ligule: Inconspicuous fringe of hairs about 0.3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Continuous, smooth, broad.

ZOYSIAGRASS:

Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, smooth or occasionally hairy upper surface with a few long hairs near the base, smooth lower surface, margins smooth to scabrous and occasionally long, hairy near base.
Sheath: Round to slightly flattened, split, smooth but may have tuft of hair at throat.
Ligule: Fringe of hairs up to 0.2 mm long.
Auricles: None

WEEDY GRASSES:

QUACKGRASS (Agropyron repens):

Found widely throughout the U.S., as far south as California, Arkansas and North Carolina, Quackgrass is a cool season sod forming perennial. It is a persistent weed in lawns and pastures, although in heavy stands it can be used for forage.
Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, taper to sharp points, harsh margins, smooth underside.
Sheath: Round, split, hairy, mostly short.
Ligule: Membranous, truncate to rounded, finely toothed or ciliate, 0.2 to 1 mm.
Auricles: Claw like, slender.
Collar: Medium, occasionally dived, may be minutely hairy.

SMOOTH CRABGRASS (Digitaria ischaemum):

This weed grows from the southern Canadian provinces to Georgia and to California, It is a coarse textured, warm season annual grass, spreading by horizontal aboveground branching stems which root in the nodes. A troublesome plant in lawns.
Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, smooth upper surface but mostly with few hairs near base, margins smooth or sparsely ciliate, dull 003366 or tinged with purple, 5 to 10 mm wide.
Sheath: Compressed, smooth, split.
Ligule: Membranous, obtuse to truncate, slightly undulate, 1.5 to 3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Broad to narrow, distinct, often divided, few hairs at margin.

LARGE CRABGRASS (Digitaria sanquinalis):

Essentially the same description as smooth crabgrass. This is a serious weed in both lawns and pastures. Most common in the eastern and southern states, it is found at low and medium altitudes throughout the U.S.
Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, pilose on both surfaces, with a few longer hairs at base on upper surface, keeled, scabrous margins sometimes hairy, 4 to 18 mm wide.
Sheath: Compressed, split, long, hairy, 003366, sometimes purplish veined.
Ligule: Membranous, rounded to acute, possibly undulate or toothed, often reddish.
Auricles: None.
Collar: Broad, hairy on margins, mostly divided by midrib.

VELVETGRASS (Holcus lanatus):

This cool season, coarse textured perennial weedy bunchgrass grows on moist areas from the New England states to the Pacific Coast and south to Georgia and Louisiana. It is not suited for lawns, but in heavy infestations can be utilized for forage.
Leaves: Rolled in bud shoot, dense, velvety, short, hairy both surfaces, margins hairy.
Sheath: Flattened, dense, velvety, short, hairy, split.
Ligule: Rounded, membranous, to 3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Divided, hairy.

ANNUAL BLUEGRASS (Poa annua):

One of the most troublesome grassy weeds in lawns annual bluegrass is found throughout the U.S. In cold areas, growth stops during the winter while in warm areas growth continues during winter months. It is a cool season annual bunchgrass with an extremely low growing habit, producing seed heads under regular mowing as low as one quarter inch.
Leaves: Folded in bud shoot, flat or V-shaped, light 003366, smooth top and bottom surfaces, not glossy, margins smooth but slightly scabrous towards tip, tip boat-shaped, tow distinct light lines may be seen along midrib by transmitted light.
Sheath: Compressed, slight keel, smooth, split, part way only.
Ligule: Acute, membranous, 0.8 to 3 mm long.
Auricles: None
Collar: Distinct, smooth, V-shaped.

LEGUME IDENTIFICATION

The parts of legume plants which are helpful in identification are the leaves, stems, roots, and flowers. The parts and some of the variations are:
LEAVES:
SESSILE: A blade with no petiole COMPLETE: A leaf with a blade, petioleand stiples.
SIMPLE: A leaf with one blade and COMPOUND: A leaf with two or more blades or
A leafstalk, or petiole. leaflets.

LEAF PARTS:

LEAFLET: One of two or more blades attached to the stem by a petiole.
PETIOLE: The stalk which supports the leaf, connecting it to the stem.
PETIOLULE: The stalk of a leaflet.
RACHIS: An apparent continuation of a petiole.
STIPULE: A pair of ear like appendages located at the base of the petiole.
TENDRIL: A twisting or rotating threadlike extension or process used by a plant to obtain support. It may be part of a stem, leaf, or leaflet.
TERMINAL LEAFLET: The leaflet located at the end of the petiole or rachis. Found on odd- pinnate leaves.

LEAF TYPES:

TRIFOLIOLATE: A leaf with three leaflets. Most clovers are trifoliolate.
PALMATE: A leaf with two or more leaflets which originate at an apparent common point at the end of the petiole. A palmately compound leaf.
PALMATELY TRIFOLIOLATE: A palmate leaf with three leaflets.
PINNATE: A leaf consisting of petiole and a richis with leaflets arranged on both sides of the rachis. Also called a pinnately compound leaf.
PINNATELY TRIFOLIOLATE: A pinnate leaf with three leaflets.
EVEN-PINNATE: A pinnate leaf with an even number of leaflets and no terminal leaflet. It may have a tendril.
ODD-PINNATE: A pinnate leaf with a terminal leaflet.

STEM AND STEM PARTS:

STEM: The axis of a plant.
NODE: The point of origin of a bud or leaf on a stem.
CROWN: The part of the stem at the soil surface.
RHIZOME: A modified underground stem which produced roots and leaf buds at the nodes.
STOLON: A horizontal stem at or below the soil surface the tips of which root and begin new plants.

STEM TYPES:

ERECT: Stems growing upright.
ASCENDING: Stems arched upward, nearly ascending.
DECUMBENT: Stems reclining or flattened, above or on the soil surface with tips ascending.
PROCUMBENT: Stem lies on the ground surface but does not root at nodes.
REPENT: Stems growing along soil surface, rooting at nodes.
RHIZOMATOUS: Having rhizomes..
STOLONIFEROUS: Having stems or leafless runners at or below the soil surface.

ROOTS AND ROOT TYPES:

ROOTS: The underground portions of a plant which absorb soil nutrients and water.
NODULES: Small nobs on the roots of legumes which are the site of nitrogen fixation.
TAPROOT: A generally large central or primary root descending vertically.
FIBROUS ROOTS: Roots which are well branched and do not have a central primary root.

ALFALFA:

Leaves: Pinnately trifoliolate, arranged alternately on stems. Leaflets are toothed at tips.
Flowers: Arranged loosely in racemes; primarily purple, some yellow or white.
Stems: Flemish types are hollow, vernal types solid; from 5 to 25 stems per plant, grow from 2 to 3 feet in height.
Roots: Taproot, with extensive branching; in good soils may grow to 20 feet or more.

RED CLOVER:

Leaves: 3 oblong leaflets with distinctive light colored marking in center of each leaflet.
Flowers: Flower heads have up to 125 florets; rose purple to magenta
Stems: American strains have hairy stems.
Roots: Taproot with many secondary branches.
Single-cut red clover:
Forms a leafy rosette in the first year, no flowers until second year.
Double-cut red clover:
Many plants flower in the first year of establishment.

WHITE CLOVER:

Leaves: Arise from stolons on long petioles, one per node. Sessile leaflets are elliptical to heart shaped. May or may not have V-shaped white mark in middle of leaflets.
Flowers: White flowers; flower heads may form close to soil surface.
Stems: Prostrate, glabrous; primary stems short with internodes.
Roots: Stolons develop radially from primary stem. Primary taproot may grow to 3 feet in depth, dies by second year.

ALSIKE CLOVER:

Leaves: Similar to red clover, but are smooth.
Flowers: Pink or white; flower heads somewhat smaller than red clover
Stems: As long or longer than red clover, more slender, more prostrate. Tillers profusely from crown.

ARROWLEAF CLOVER:

Leaves: Long (1″ to 2.5″) arrow shaped leaflets with pronounced veins, may or may not have large white V-shaped markings.
Flowers: Initially white, turning pink to purple; conical, up to 2″ long.
Stems: Smooth, hollow, thick, often purple colored; branching; grow from 2 to 5 feet in length.

SWEETCLOVER:

Leaves: Trifoliolate leaflets, toothed around the entire margin.
Flowers: White or yellow, formed on long racemes, flowers are smaller than alfalfa or red clover.
Stems: Similar to but more coarse than alfalfa. Many new stems start from crown buds in second year.
Roots: Central taproot with many branches; becomes fleshy in the fall.

SAINFOIN:

Leaves: Pinnately compound with 13 to 21 leaflets per leaf.
Flowers: Pink flowers, rarely white, on erect racemes.
Stems: Stout and erect.
Roots: Deep root system.

CRIMSON CLOVER:

Leaves: Three leaflets, broadly obovate at tip, narrow at base, densely covered with hairs.
Flowers: Bright crimson, conical, pointed flower heads.
Stems: Grow to 3 feet or more in length.
Roots: Central taproot with many extensive fibrous roots.

CICER MILKVETCH:

Leaves: Pinnately compound with 10 to 13 pairs of leaflets plus one terminal leaflet per leaf. Similar in appearance to vetch leaves.
Flower: Pale yellow.
Stems: Decumbent habit, coarse, hollow and succulent.
Roots: Rhizomatous.

VETCH:

Leaves: Pinnately compound and terminating in a tendril.
Flowers: Purple
Stems: Vary from conspicuously hairy to nearly hairless.

BIG TREFOIL:

Leaves: Sessile, five leaflets; linear to oval shape.
Flowers: Yellow
Stems: Finer stemmed than alfalfa; stems fairly upright in stands, single plants stems tend to be decumbent.
Roots: Taproot with fibrous, branching laterals, and with rhizomes.

BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL:

Leaves: Compound, alternate on opposite sides of stem; 5 leaflets, 3 at end of petiole, 2 smaller at base of petiole.
Flowers: Light to dark yellow, may be tinged with orange or have red stripes.
Stems: Many, well branched from single crown; finer than alfalfa.
Roots: Taproot with numerous lateral branches, more extensive root system in upper soil levels than alfalfa.

BARLEY – Hordeum vulgare

Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Medium length. Membranous
Auricles: Long, slender, glabrous with pointed tips
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Blades with about 20 veins, twisted clockwise, usually glabrous.
Sheaths: Open. Usually glabrous.
Seed head: Six-row barley has three single-flowered spikelets at each rachis point. Variations include two-row and hooded types.

CEREAL RYE – Secale cereale

Other Names: Rye
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Short, Membranous
Auricles: Very Short
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. With about 12 veins, twisted clockwise, cover with short, fine hair (slight to very hairy). Leaves not shiny 003366 on lower surface.
Sheaths: Open. Covered with short, fine hair (slight to very hairy).
Seed head: There is one spikelet at each rachis node and two fertile florets in each spikelet.

CEREAL OAT – Avena sativa

Other Names: Oats
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Long, acute, toothed. Membranous
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Mostly glabrous with about 12 veins, usually twisted anti-clockwise. A few long hairs on the margins of lower leaf blades of some varieties.
Sheaths: Open. Mostly glabrous, although a few long hairs on the lower leaf sheath of some varieties.
Wild Common Fatuoid Seed Head: Panicle less open than wild oats. There is a single spikelet on each rachis branch. The spikelets have three to five florets. The outer glumes are large and papery.

PROSO MILLET – Panicum mileaceum

Other Names: Wild Proso Millet
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Hairy. Absent on first blade
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Hairy. Broad
Sheaths: Open with overlapping margins. Hairy. First sheath closed.
Seed Head: Much branched panicle
Seed: Color ranges from nearly white to black. Wild types are dark brown to black, cultivated varieties are lighter in color.

WHEAT – Triticum aestivum

Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Medium length. Membranous
Auricles: Short with blunt tips and hairy.
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Blades with about 12 veins, twisted clockwise, covered with short, fine hair (slight to very hairy).
Sheaths: Open. Leaf sheath covered with short, fine hair (slight to very hairy)
Seed Head: There is a singe
spikelet at each rachis node. There may be three to five florets per spikelet.

BARNYARDGRASS – Eschinochloa crusgalli

Other Names: Watergrass. Barnyard Millet
Plant Type: Vigorous and stout annual. Erect or spreading. Variable in size and color.
Ligule: None
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Usually smooth and long
Sheaths: Open. Smooth
Seed Head: Panicle, red to dark purple. Spikelets with or without a slender awn, and scattered stiff hairs
Seed: Strongly convex on one side, flat on the other,
hard and shiny. Palea darker than lemma with many longitudinal lines. Light lines or veins on lemma of fertile floret more apparent near ends. Caryopsis has large embryo and large dark hilum.

FOXTAIL BARLEY – Hordeum jubatum

Other Names: Squirreltail barley, Tickle Grass
Plant Type: Tufted perennial. Native
Ligule: Short and membranous
Auricles: Absent or very short
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Often glabrous or somewhat pubescent
Sheaths: Open. Smooth to densely hairy
Seed Head: Compact cylinder similar to barley, with long awns. Spike pale 003366.
Seed: Long awns attached to fertile and sterile seeds.

WILD BARLEY – Hordeum leporinum

Other Names: Hare Barley. Rabbit Barley
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Short. Membranous
Auricles: Present. Slender and acute
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Smooth to hairy
Sheaths: Open, usually smooth.
Seed Head: Erect spike. Similar to barley
Seed: The seed with lemmas has the general shape of a barley grain, but narrower and flatter.

COLONIAL BENTGRASS – Agrostis tenuis

Other Names: “Highland”
Plant Types: Perennial, rhizomatous. Astoria may have stolons and rhizomes.
Ligule: Membranous. Round to obtuse in shape.
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Narrow
Sheaths: Open
Seed Head: Panicle open pyramidal, feathery, having slight reddish cast. Panicle stays open after pollination.
Seed: Very small, narrowly elliptic seed. Transparent lemma and palea which usually, but not always, adhere to caryopsis. Rachills usually absent, breaks off easily. Caryopsis reddish brown color.

CREEPING BENTGRASS – Agrostis stolonifera

Other Names: “Palustris” has referred to Seaside Bentgrass
Plant type: Spreading and low growing perennial. Stoloniferous.
Ligule: Membranous, sometimes finely toothed. Considered fairly long.
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Linear
Sheaths: Open
Seed Head: Panicle closed except with flowering.
Seed: Extremely small
Note: Can get mixed up with water foxtail in the spring.

REDTOP – Agrostis gigantea

Other Names: Spike Bentgrass. Spike Redtop. Western Bentgrass
Plant Type: Tufted perennial. No rhizomes or stolons
Ligule: Membranous, thin and long. Longer than colonial or creeping.
Auricles: Absent.
Blades: Rolled in bud
Sheaths: Open
Seed Head: Panicle contracted, spike like, yellow when mature.

SPIKE BENTGRASS – Agrostis exarata

Other Names: Spike Bentgrass Spike Redtop Western Bentgrass
Plant Type: Tufted perennial. No rhizomes or stolons
Ligule: Membranous, thin and long. Longer than colonial or creeping.
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Rolled in bud
Sheaths: Open
Seed Head: Panicle contracted, spike like, yellow when mature.

ANNUAL BLUEGRASS – Poa annua

Plant Type: Short tufted annual.
Ligule: Membranous, prominent
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud folded. Blades soft, lax, boat shaped tip. Lighter 003366 than Kentucky Bluegrass. Glabrous
Sheaths: Open, sometimes partly closed. Compressed, keeled. Glabrous. Usually has a crinkle about mid length.
Seed Head: Spreading and open pyramidal panicle with spikelets crowded on fine branches. 3 to 6 flowered. Whitish at maturity
Seed: Broadly elliptic shape, small seed. Caryopsis short, thick. Light 003366 to straw color. Lemma densely pubescent on very distinct nerves.

BULBOUS BLUEGRASS – Poa bulbosa

Plant Type: Densely tufted perennial. Bulbous at base. No rhizomes
Ligule: Membranous, triangulate acute
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Glabrous. Boat shaped tip. Blades flat or loosely involute.
Sheaths: Partially open, closed only near the base – inner nodes swollen
Seedhead: Contracted panicle. Florets converted into bulblets with a dark purple base.

CANADA BLUEGRASS – Poa compressa

Plant Type: Perennial with slender spreading rhizomes. Culms strongly flattened
Ligule: Membranous with a fringe of fine hairs
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Folded in bud. Mostly rather than short. Boat shaped at tip
Sheaths: Strongly compressed, keeled. Separates it from Kentucky Bluegrass.
Seedhead: Narrow panicle with crowded spikelet.

KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS – Poa pratensis

Plant Type: Tufted perennial with rhizomes. Dark 003366
Ligule: Membranous, short
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud folded, leaf sides parallel to near boat like tip.
Sheaths: Usually open. Somewhat keeled
Seedhead: Panicle open and spreading no awns.
Seed: Small seed, narrowly eliptic. Five nerves evident to base of lemma. Lemma keeled. Color brownish, darker toward basal end.

ROUGHSTALK BLUEGRASS – Poa trivialis

Other Names: Rough Bluegrass
Plant Type: Tufted stolons. Perennial. Seedlings often softer and more taint and shiny than annual bluegrass.
Ligule: Membranous and very long. Often short, however, on seedlings
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud folded. Blades slightly rough. Light 003366. Leaf sides parallel to boat – like tip.
Sheaths: Keeled, slightly rough. May be slightly reddish on lower sheath in younger plant
Seedhead: Panicle open and spreading. No awns.

CALIFORNIA BROME – Bromus carinatus

Other Names: Mountain Brome
Plant Type: Annual or Perennial
Ligule: Membranous. Toothed margin
Auricles: Usually absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Smooth to hairy. Tent to twist clockwise.
Sheaths: Closed to above mid-length (split part way down in a distinctive shape) Smooth to hairy.
Seedhead: Lemma keeled. Awn shorter than lemma. Spikelet more compressed than other weedy bromes.

CHEAT – Bromus secalinus

Other Names: Chess
Plant Type: Winter annual
Ligule: Membranous
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled, tips pointed, not prow-like, twist clockwise, hairy
Sheaths: Closed to above mid – length (split part way down v-shaped). Usually smooth.
Seedhead: Panicle open and spreading Lemmas rounded. Awn not exceeding the body of the lemma. Margins of lemma deeply inrolled after anthesis
Seed: Seed compressed laterally, slightly keeled toward base. Caryopsis thick. Straw color to dull brown. Lemma smooth, hard – looking texture.

DOWNY BROME – Bromus tectorium

Other Names: Cheatgrass, Downy chess
Plant type: Winter annual
Ligule: Short, membranous, toothed margin
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled, hairy , often purplish leaf tips.
Sheaths: Closed to above mid length (split part way down), soft hairs.
Seedhead: Panicle very drooping, often purplish. Lemmas rounded. Awns longer than lemmas. Awns and spikelet smaller than Ripgut brome.
Seed: Long and narrow. Seed flattened laterally, curved backward. Caryopsis thin, slender, shapely pointed callus end. Straw brown to purplish color. Lemma with soft hairs, long awn.

STERILE BROME – Bromus sterilis

Plant Type: Winter annual. Weaker stem than ripgut brome.
Ligule: Membranous
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Rolled in bud. Tips pointed, not prow-like. Hairy.
Sheaths: Pubescent. Split part way down, margins do not overlap
Seedhead: Lemmas rounded. Panicle very lax. Awn length exceeds the body of lemma.

RIPGUT BROME – Bromus rigidus

Plant Type: Winter annual
Ligule: Membranous. Toothed margin.
Auricles: Absent.
Blades: Rolled in bud, tips pointed, not prow-like. Twist clockwise. Hairy.
Sheaths: Closed to above mid-length (split part way down in a distinct v-shape.) Margins do not overlap. Hairy.
Seedhead: Panicle open and spreading with long, distinct awns. Lemmas rounded. Awns very large exceed body of the lemma. Panicle droops slightly, but less than Poverty brome.
Seed: Sharp callus formed on lower end of seed.

SOFT CHESS – Bromus mollis

Other Names: Soft Brome
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Membranous
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Rolled in the bud, tips pointed, not prow-like. Hairy
Sheaths: Split part way down in v-shape. Pubescent.
Seedhead: Lemmas rounded. Glumes distinctly pubescent, broad and obtuse. Spikelet not as compressed as California Brome.

LARGE CRABGRASS – Digitaria sanguinalis

Other Names: Hairy Crabgrass
Plant Type: Annual
Ligule: Membranous. Very short on first few blades. Toothed margin.
Auricles: Absent
Blades: Leaf bud rolled. Leaves fairly broad, open, and flat. Hairy.
Sheaths: Open with overlapping margins. Hairy.
Seedhead: Slender spikes, several pairs arising from the tip of the stalk. Seed stalks may root at base. No awns present. Similar to Bermudagrass, but Crabgrass is hairier.