Eriochloa aristata

Species category

Weed

Common name

bearded cupgrass, awned cup grass

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

Lanceolate

Size

  • Length 4 mm
  • Width 1.5 mm
  • Thickness 1 mm

Color

Light brown

Texture

Rather dense covering of appressedAppressed:
Pressed close or lying flat against something.
hairs.

Lemma

Palea

PaleaPalea:
One of the thin bracts of grass floret enclosing the fruit (caryopsis) that is located on the side opposite the embryo.
covered by the second glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
and sterile lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
.

Other structures

Knob-like structure on the base of the spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Identification notes

The unit can be found as a spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
, floretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.
, or caryopsis, but usually as a spikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
. SpikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
may have awnsAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
but they are usually broken off. The spikeletsSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.
of different Eriochloa spp. are very difficult to differentiate.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Eriochloa aristata Vasey

Synonyms

Eriochloa aristata Vasey var. aristata

 Eriochloa aristata.  Spikelets with a dense covering of appressed hairs.
Eriochloa aristata. Spikelets with a dense covering of appressed hairs.
From Left to Right: 1.  Eriochloa aristata   2.  Eriochloa punctata . Spikelets with a knob-like structure on the base.
From Left to Right: 1. Eriochloa aristata 2. Eriochloa punctata. Spikelets with a knob-like structure on the base.
From Left to Right: 1.  Eriochloa punctata   2.  Eriochloa aristata  . Spikelets with a dense covering of appressed hairs. 
From Left to Right: 1. Eriochloa punctata 2. Eriochloa aristata . Spikelets with a dense covering of appressed hairs.