Grass Species Detail Page

Dactylisglomerata

Plant - summer

Lynx Lake
Sue Smith

Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Dactylis glomerata - orchardgrass
Other Common Names: cocksfoot

Plant Form:Grass

Family: Poaceae


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Basal leaves Lynx Lake Sue Smith	Spikelets Lynx Lake Sue Smith	Seedheads - fall Lynx Lake Sue Smith	Seedheads - spring Lynx Lake Sue Smith	Seedheads - fall Lynx Lake Sue Smith	Membranous ligule Lynx Lake Sue Smith

Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology

Origin: Introduced Season: Cool and Warm
Habitat Description: Thrives in moist shaded sites. Found in meadows, orchards, woodland borders, fence rows, pastures, and generally in areas that have undergone disturbance.
Plant Communities: Disturbed Areas
Elevation: 5000 - 7500 feet

General Description

Desc: Tall, tufted bunchgrass, very green with drooping leaves.
Identification notes: Densely tufted perennial bunchgrass, 8 to 55 inches tall, triangular seedheads on flattened stems; sheaths without hairs; ligules 1/4 inch long; blades elongate, 1/8 to 1/2 inch wide.
Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass  Rhizomes: Y  Stolons: N
Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N  Bushy (highly branched): N
Height with Seedheads: Greater than 36 inches
Seedhead Structure: Branched - contracted  Seedhead Droops: N
Flowering Period: May - Oct

Flower Characteristics

Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: Y
Awns: Less than 1/4 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N

Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedheads with a few stiff rigid branches; spikelets nearly sessile in dense, 1 sided clusters at the ends of the branches. Seedheads spread only at flowering time. Spikelets 2 to 6 flowered.

Vegetative Characteristics

Blade Hairy: N Blade with White Margin: N Blade Cross Section: Flat or folded
Blade Notes: Prominent rough midrib. Young leaf blades are sharply folded but open out flat as they mature. Leaf edges when rubbed toward the base have a sandpaper like feel.
Sheath Hairy: N Tuft of Hairs Top of Sheath or Collar: N Ligules: Membranous
Auricles (Ear-like lobes at base of blades): N
Vegetative Notes: Sheaths longer than the internodes, smooth without hairs, usually keeled; ligules 1/8 to 1/2 inch, abruptly "chopped off" to gradually tapering to a sharp point.

Forage Value: Good to excellent for livestock and wildlife.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer