Poaceae

Showing 1–12 of 13 results

  • Agropyron cristatum / crested wheatgrass

    • cool season grass growing in dense tufts
    • easily recognized by planar spike
    • spikelets overlap and are angled with respect to the stem
    • common

  • Bromus inermis / smooth brome

    • clump forming grass but clonally spreading
    • erect, leafy
    • in winter, leaves curl up (like ribbon)
    • florescence is a nodding panicle, standing well above leaves
    • spikelets bronze/purple at maturity; anthers yellow

  • Bromus tectorum / cheatgrass

    • short bunchgrass, 2 to 30 in at floweirng
    • panicle with all florets to one side; long awns
    • early season growth, flowering, seed drop
    • florets green, turning purple as seeds mature
    • highly invasive!

  • Dactylis glomerata / orchardgrass

    • perennial bunchgrass
    • branched inflorescence with lowest branch well below the others
    • spikelets wedge-shaped, flattened in tight clusters
    • florets green to red/purple tinged; grey-brown when seeds mature
    • introduced and widespread, but not in wet areas

  • Danthonia californica / California oatgrass

    • medium-sized, cool season bunchgrass
    • florets widely spaced with long stalks on an open panicle
    • may have flowering stems that appear wiry and crinkled
    • when flowering, stamens are purple

  • Elymus trachycaulus / slender wheatgrass

    • cool season bunchgrass; no rhizomes
    • flower spikes very narrow and linear; overlapping spikelets tightly pressed to stem
    • flat, medium-width leaves; somewhat bluish
    • beautifully straw colored in fall
    • common but rarely abundant; many habitats

  • Festuca idahoensis / Idaho fescue

    • a bunchgrass growing in very dense clumps
    • over-winters green; an early green grass in spring
    • green to blue-green to silvery green leaves
    • individual flowers in clusters of hairy spikelets on branched panicles; very dark purple or green
    • seeds have large spines (awns) at the tips

  • Hesperostipa comata / needle and thread

    • widely spaced bunchgrass
    • glossy leaves, smooth stem
    • narrow inflorescence with long awns (hairs)
    • sharp, needle-like seed retaining the awn
    • drought tolerant

  • Hordeum jubatum / foxtail barley

    • attractive roadside grass
    • long, silky, glistening awns; red, green, purple-ish
    • awns and bracts are sharp and barbed... potentially dangerous to dogs

  • Koeleria macrantha / Prairie Junegrass

    • short, tuft-forming bunchgrass
    • leaves short and basal with raised veins
    • grows in early spring; flowers in June/July
    • spike-like cylindrical inflorescence, 2-5" long, tan or purple
    • scattered distributions, esp. in rocky or sandy forests or plains

  • Phalaris arundinacea / reed canarygrass

    • large, coarse, erect grass
    • long, flat blades with pointy tips...  from base
    • distinct ligule—membranous and long
    • large but compact inflorescences (panicles)
    • often in dense monocultures, e.g. on river banks

  • Phleum pratense / timothy

    • tight, cylindrical flower head
    • probably the most recognizable grass in the Valley
    • pink stamens with prodigious pollen production in summer
    • bulb at base of stem; brown leaf sheath bases

Showing 1–12 of 13 results