Agrostis exarata

Species category

Weed

Common name

spikeSpike:
Has a strong central axis (rachis) on which flowers or spikelets are directly attached (sessile), e.g. wheatgrasses.
bentgrass

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

FloretFloret:
A small flower in a clustered inflorescence (e.g., sunflower, grasses). In grasses, a floret consists of the lemma, palea, stamens, and pistil.

Shape

EllipticElliptic:
Outline of an ellipse; greatest width midway sloping to an equally pointed apex and base.

Size

  • Length: 1.2–1.5 mm
  • Width: 0.3–0.5 mm
  • Thickness: 0.3–0.5 mm

Color

Brown

Texture

Smooth

Lemma

ApexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
transparent, smooth

Palea

Transparent, enclosed in lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.

Other structures

AwnAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
is straight and is an extension of the midnerve.

Identification notes

Bristly hairs on lateral sides of callusCallus:
The hard base of grass florets or spikelets, just above the point of disarticulation.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia 

AOSA examination list

Not included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet, Agrostis spp.

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Agrostis exarata Trin.

Synonyms

Agrostis aenea Trin.
Agrostis alaskana Hultén
Agrostis ampla Hitchc.
Agrostis asperifolia Trin.
Agrostis exarata Trin. var. minor Hook.
Agrostis exarata Trin. var. monolepis (Torr.) Hitchc.
Agrostis exarata Trin. ssp. minor (Hook.) C.L. Hitchc.
Agrostis exarata Trin. var. purpurascens Hultén
Agrostis exarata Trin. var. pacifica Vasey
Agrostis longiligula Hitchc.
Agrostis longiligula Hitchc. var. australis J.T. Howell
Agrostis melaleuca (Trin.) Hitchc.
Agrostis microphylla Steud. var. major Vasey

 Agrostis exarata.  Straight awn that is an extension of the midnerve.
Agrostis exarata. Straight awn that is an extension of the midnerve.