Vulpia octoflora

Species category

Weed

Common name

sixweeks fescue, pullout grass, sixweeks grass, eight-flower six-weeks grass

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

Obovate 

Size

  • Length 3–3.5 mm 
  • Width 0.5–0.8 mm 
  • Thickness 0.4–0.6 mm 

Color

Yellowish-brown

Texture

LemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
smooth on basalBasal:
The base of the fruit or seed opposite the apical end.
half; hispid across top and upper sides.

Lemma

Truncate at base; long pointed at apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
.

Palea

Deep V-shaped cavity; nearly covered by lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
.

Other structures

CallusCallus:
The hard base of grass florets or spikelets, just above the point of disarticulation.
is flat with groove above; rachillaRachilla:
The axis of a spikelet.
is stout with a disc apexApical:
The distal end of the fruit or seed away from the point of attachment or attachment scar.
.

Identification notes

CaryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
is dark brown, giving the translucent paleaPalea:
One of the thin bracts of grass floret enclosing the fruit (caryopsis) that is located on the side opposite the embryo.
its dark color. The upper part of the lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
and awnAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
are sparingly hispid. AwnAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).
is about one half the length of the lemmaLemma:
One of two bracts of the grass floret; it is located on the side nearest the embryo and opposite the rachilla.
.

Noxious weed seed categories

Not listed

AOSA examination list

Included

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb.


 

Synonyms

Festuca gracilenta Buckley
Festuca octoflora
Walter var. glauca (Nutt.)
Fernald Festuca octoflora Walter var. tenella (Willd.) Fernald
Festuca tenella Willd.
Festuca tenella Willd. var. glauca Nutt.
Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. var. tenella (Willd.) Fernald

 Vulpia octoflora.  Floret with a flat callus and a stout rachilla with a disced apex. 
Vulpia octoflora. Floret with a flat callus and a stout rachilla with a disced apex.