Common Names
Click on the language to view common names.
Common Names in English:
Couch-Grass, Couchgrass, Creeping Quackgrass, Creeping Wild Rye, Devils Grass Elytrigia Repens, Dog Grass, Medusa's Head, Quackgrass, Quackgrass Grass, Quackgrass Rye, Twitchgrass
Common Names in Italian:
Caprinella, Gramigna Comune
Common Names in Russian:
пырей ползучий, Pyrej Polzučij
Common Names in Swedish:
Kvickrot
Description
Family Poaceae
Annual
or perennial
herbs, or tall woody bamboos
. Flowering stems (culms
) jointed
, internodes hollow or solid; branches arising singly from nodes and subtended by a leaf sheath
and 2-keeled prophyll, often fascicled in bamboos. Leaves arranged alternately in 2 ranks
, differentiated into sheath, blade
, and an adaxial
erect
appendage
at sheath/blade junction (ligule) ; leaf sheath surrounding and supporting culm-internode, split to base
or infrequently tubular
with partially or completely fused margins
, modified with reduced blade in bamboos (culm sheaths) ; leaf blades divergent, usually long, narrow and flat, but varying from inrolled
and filiform
to ovate
, veins parallel, sometimes with cross-connecting veinlets
(especially in bamboos) ; ligule membranous or a line
of hairs
. Inflorescence terminal
or axillary
, an open, contracted
, or spikelike panicle, or composed of lax
to spikelike racemes
arranged along an elongate
central axis, or digitate, paired
, or occasionally solitary; axillary inflorescences often many, subtended by spatheoles
(specialized bladeless leaf sheaths) and gathered into a leafy compound
panicle; spikelets
often aggregated into complex
clusters
in bamboos. Spikelets composed of distichous bracts arranged along a slender axis (rachilla) ; typically 2 lowest bracts (glumes
) empty, subtending
1 to many florets
; glumes often poorly differentiated from accompanying bracts in bamboos. Florets composed of 2 opposing bracts enclosing a single small flower, outer bract (lemma) clasping
the more delicate, usually 2-keeled inner bract (palea) ; base of floret often with thickened prolongation articulated with rachilla (callus) ; lemma often with apical or dorsal bristle
(awn
), glumes also sometimes awned
. Flowers bisexual
or unisexual
; lodicules (small scales
representing perianth) 2, rarely 3 or absent, 3 to many in bamboos, hyaline
or fleshy
; stamens 3 rarely 1, 2, 6, or more in some bamboos, hypogynous, filaments
capillary
, anthers
versatile; ovary 1-celled, styles (1 or) 2(rarely 3), free
or united
at base, topped by feathery stigmas, exserted from sides or apex of floret. Fruit normally a dry indehiscent caryopsis with thin pericarp firmly adherent
to seed, pericarp rarely free, fleshy in some bamboos; embryo small or large; hilum
punctate
to linear
.
About 700 genera and 11,000 species: widely distributed in all regions of the world.[1]
Genus Elymus
Plants
perennial
, usually tufted
, usually without, rarely with, rhizomes. Culms
usually erect
. Leaf sheath
of cauline leaves split almost to base
; auricles
present or absent; leaf blade
flat or rolled. Spike erect to nodding
. Spikelets
1 or 2(4) per node, sessile, rarely very shortly pedicellate
, appressed
to rachis, clearly laterally compressed
, usually all similar, with 210 or more florets
; rachis tough. Glumes
opposite or side-by-side, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-ovate, firmly membranous to leathery, 19(11) -veined, not keeled
, apex obtuse
to shortly awned
; veins ± raised. Lemma lanceolate-oblong, rounded
abaxially, 5-veined, ± pubescent
, apex obtuse or acute to awned, rarely toothed
; veins connivent at apex; awn
erect or reflexed
. Palea shorter than or equaling lemma, apex retuse
, subrounded, or acute. Caryopsis usually adherent
to lemma and palea. x = 7.
About 170 species:temperate regions of both hemispheres, mainly in Asia; 88 species (62 endemic) in China.
The genus Roegneria should be referred to Elymus because of their many common characters, e.g.
, plants usually tufted; spikelets usually all similar, 1 per node; lemma lanceolate-oblong, rounded abaxially, 5-veined, veins connivent at apex.[2]
Physical Description
Flowers: Bloom Period: blooms repeatedly • Flower Color: inconspicuous, none
Size/Age/Growth
Size: 12-18" tall.
Habitat
Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,252 meters (0 to 10,669 feet).[3]
Biology
Growth
Culture: Space 36-48" apart.
Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .
Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. (map)
Taxonomy
- Domain:
Eukaryota
(
)
- Whittaker & Margulis,1978
- eukaryotes
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
)
- Haeckel, 1866
- Plants
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
)
- Cavalier-Smith, 1981
- Phylum:
Magnoliophyta
(
)
- Sinnott, 1935 Ex Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Flowering Plants
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
)
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
)
- Kenrick & Crane, 1997
- Class:
Liliopsida
(
)
- Scopoli, 1760
- Subclass:
Commelinidae
(
)
- Takhtajan, 1967
- Superorder:
Poanae
(
)
- (Small, 1903) Takhtajan, 1997 Ex Reveal & Doweld, 1999
- Superorder:
Poanae
(
- Subclass:
Commelinidae
(
- Class:
Liliopsida
(
- Infraphylum:
Radiatopses
(
- Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
(
- Phylum:
Magnoliophyta
(
- Subkingdom:
Viridaeplantae
(
- Kingdom:
Plantae
(
Unambiguous Synonyms
- Agropyron junceum (L.) P. Beauv. Var. repens (L.) M. Marsson
- Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.
- Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv.
- Agropyron repens var. subulatum (Schreb.) Roemer & J. A. Schultes
- Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. Ex B. D. Jackson
- Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. Ex Nevski
- Elytrigia repens var. vaillantiana (Wulfen & Schreb.) Prokudin
- Elytrigia vaillantiana (Wulfen & Schreb.) Beetle
- Triticum repens L.
- Triticum vaillantianum Wulfen & Schreb.
Notes
Publishing author
: Roem. & Schult. Publication
: Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis
[Roemer & Schultes] 2: 754 1817 [Nov 1817] Name
Status: Accepted Name
. Latest taxonomic
scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000
Place of publication: Madroño 9:127. 1947
Name verified on 09-Nov-2007 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 09-Nov-2007
Similar Species
Members of the genus Elymus
ZipcodeZoo has pages for 646 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:
E. abolinii · E. acicularis · E. acutus · E. aegilopoides · E. aegyptiacus · E. aemulans · E. afghanicus · E. africanus · E. agropyroides · E. akmolinensis · E. alaicus · E. alashanicus · E. alaskanus · E. alaskanus alaskanus (Alaskan Wheatgrass) · E. alaskanus latiglumis (Alaskan Wheatgrass) · E. alaskanus scandicus · E. alaskanus subsp. borealis · E. alaskanus subsp. islandicus · E. alaskanus subsp. latiglumis (Alaskan Wheatgrass) · E. alaskanus subsp. sajanensis · E. alaskanus subsp. scandicus · E. alaskanus subsp. subalpinus · E. alaskanus subsp · E. alatavicus · E. alberti · E. albicans (Montana Wheatgrass) · E. albicans var. albicans · E. albicans var. griffithsii · E. albowianus · E. aleuticus · E. aliena · E. alopex · E. alpinus · E. altaicus · E. altissimus · E. ambiguus · E. ambiguus var. salina · E. americanus · E. amurensis · E. andinus · E. angulatus · E. angustatus · E. angustifolius · E. angustiformis · E. angustispiculatus · E. angustus · E. antarcticus · E. anthosachnoides · E. antiquus · E. apricus · E. aralensis · E. araucanus · E. arcuatus · E. arenarius · E. arenarius mollis · E. arenarius subsp. sabulosus · E. arenarius var. mollis · E. arenarius villosus · E. arenicola · E. arenicolus · E. arenosus · E. aristatus · E. aristiglumis · E. aristiglumis var. hirsutus · E. arizonicus (Arizona Wheatgrass) · E. arkansanus · E. asiaticus · E. asiaticus longearistatus · E. asper · E. athericus · E. atratus · E. attenuatus · E. auritus · E. australasicus · E. australis · E. badachschanicus · E. bakeri (Baker´s Wheatgrass) · E. baldschuanicus · E. barbatus · E. barbicallus · E. barbicallus var. pubifolius · E. barbicallus var. pubinodis · E. barystachyus · E. batalinii · E. batalinii subsp. alaica · E. 'Blue Steel' · E. bolivianus · E. bonplandii · E. borealis · E. borianus · E. brachyaristatus · E. brachyphyllus · E. brachypodioides · E. brachystachys · E. brachytrichus · E. breviaristatus · E. breviaristatus subsp. scabrifolius · E. brevifolius · E. breviglumis · E. brevipes
More Info
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- Search using Specialized Databases: GenBank | Medline | Scirus | CISTI/CAL | Agricola Periodicals | Agricola Books
Further Reading
- Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv. - An Assessment of Exotic Plant Species of Rocky Mountain National Park DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls
- Agropyron repens - Species Abstracts of Highly Disruptive Exotic Plants at Pipestone National Monument DOI. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Identification/Description; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls
- Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. (F Turk)
- Elymus repens (L.) Gould. - Invasive Plant Species of Alaska (PDF | 49 KB) University of Alaska - Anchorage. Alaska Natural Heritage Program. Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Special Note: References
- Elymus repens - Noxious and Nuisance Plant Management Information System (PMIS) United States Army Corps of Engineers. Engineer Research and Development Center. Environmental Laboratory. Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Distribution
- Elymus repens Integrated Taxonomic Information System.Taxonomy
- Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski - Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) USDA. ARS. National Genetic Resources Program. Taxonomy; Distribution; Legal Aspects
- Elytrigia repens - Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) USDA. Forest Service. Rocky Mountain Station. Fire Sciences Laboratory. Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References
- Elytrigia repens - Wisconsin Botanical Information System Wisconsin State Herbarium; University of Wisconsin-Madison. Taxonomy; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution
- Elytrigia repens Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database USDA. National Agricultural Library. Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)
- Elytrigia repens BioImages Virtual Field Guide.Photographs
- Elytrigia repens var. repens (Quackgrass) Nature Conservancy. Global Invasive Species Initiative.Identification/Description; Introduction History; Impacts; Dispersion; Controls; Special Note: Element Stewardship Abstract with excellent set of references
- FNA Editorial Committee. 1993–. Flora of North America. (F NAmer)
- Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. (L US Can ed2) [= Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski].
- Löve, Á. 1984. Conspectus of the Triticeae. Feddes Repert. 95:484. [= Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski].
- Plant profile for Elymus repens (L.) Gould - PLANTS Database USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center. Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Distribution; Legal Aspects
- Quack Grass - Weed of the Week (Jul 9, 2005; PDF | 198 KB) Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Habitat; Distribution; ControlsUSDA. FS. Northeastern Area. Forest Health Protection.
- Quackgrass - Encyloweedia California Department of Food and Agriculture.Identification/Description; Photographs; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls
- Quackgrass - Guide to Weeds in British Columbia British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries (Canada). Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls
- Quackgrass - Official Control Program Kansas Department of Agriculture. Plant Protection and Weed Control Program. Identification/Description; Controls
- Quackgrass - Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide Ohio State University. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat
- Quackgrass - Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science. Identification/Description; Photographs
- Quackgrass Colorado Weed Management Association.Identification/Description; Photographs; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion
- Quackgrass State of Utah. Weber County Weed Abatement. Identification/Description; Photographs
- Quackgrass and Its Control (PDF | 68 KB) Iowa State University Extension. Identification/Description; Illustrations; Controls
- Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. (F Eur)
- Wisskirchen, R. & Haeupler, H. (1998a): Standardliste der Farn- und Bltenpflanzen Deutschlands, Stuttgart: Ulmer
- Wisskirchen, R. and Haeupler, H. (1998a): Standardliste der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands, Stuttgart: Ulmer
Notes
Contributors
- African Regional Workshop (Conservation and Sustainable Management of Trees, Zimbabwe) 1998. Pericopsis elata. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 October 2006.
- Barneby RC & Forero E, 1994/1995 (from ILDIS).
- Barneby RC & Grimes JW (Monograph 1996/97), 2001-05 (from ILDIS).
- Barneby RC and Forero E, 1994/1995 (from ILDIS).
- Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2005. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. [http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/]. Access date: Nov 23, 2005
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 21, 2007.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2007. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed September 17, 2007.
- Carr, Gerald
- Chappill J, 2001-06 (from ILDIS).
- Cristofolini G, 2001-06 (from ILDIS).
- Fautin, Daphne G. (from Hexacorallians of the World).
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed January 27, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
- National Invasive Species Information Center, National Agricultural Library, United States Department of Agriculture. Web Site. Accessed May 3, 2008.
- Nghia, N.H. 1998. Dalbergia entadoides. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 October 2006.
- Pippen, Jeffrey S. Jeff's Nature Page. Accessed December 8, 2007.
- Podlech D, 1996 (from ILDIS).
- Polhill RM, 1993 (from ILDIS).
- Rhytismatales database 2006.
- Ross JH, 2001-01 (from ILDIS).
- Schrire BD, 1994-10 (from ILDIS).
- Sokoloff DD, 2001-03 (from ILDIS).
- Stirton CH, 2001-06 (from ILDIS).
- The Global Lepidoptera Names Index2, 12.2, 2005.
- The International Plant Names Index. Accessed Jan 19, 2007.
- The Virtual Field Herbarium.
- Thomson, Christian (from Diptera).
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (April 25, 2008)
- USDA, NRCS. 2005. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
- van der Maesen LJG, 1993 (from ILDIS).
- van der Maesen, LJG, 2001-03 (from ILDIS).
- Vaz AMSF, 2001-05 (from ILDIS).
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Adenanthera intermedia. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 October 2006.
- Zarucchi JL, 1993 (from ILDIS).
Data Sources
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 23, 2007:
- Biologiezentrum der Oberoesterreichischen Landesmuseen, Biologiezentrum Linz
- Bundesamt für Naturschutz / Zentralstelle für Phytodiversität Deutschland, Bundesamt fuer Naturschutz / Zentralstelle fuer Phytodiversitaet Deutschland
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute(IPGRI), EURISCO
- Jyväskylä University Museum - The Section of Natural Sciences, Vascular plant collection of Jyvaskyla University Museum
- Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Natural History Museum, Vienna - Herbarium W, Herbarium W
- Oregon State University, Vascular Plant Collection
- Steiermärkisches Landesmuseum Joanneum - Herbarium GJO, Herbarium GJO
- The Danish Biodiversity Information Facility, Botany registration database by Danish botanists
- The Swedish Museum of Natural History
- , Botany
- The Swedish Museum of Natural History
- , Lund Botanical Museum
- University of Alaska Museum of the North, University of Alaska Museum of the North Herbarium
- Utah Valley State College
- , Utah Valley State College Herbarium
Identifiers
- Biodiversity Heritage Library NamebankID: 2671958
- Catalogue of Life Accepted Name Code: ITS-512839
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 13551791
- Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:74039-3
- GRIN Nomen Number: 102069
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 512839
- MoBot NameID: 25515687
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: PMPOA7H010
- U.S.D.A. Plant Symbol: TRVA4
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 20262
Footnotes
- Shou-liang Chen, De-Zhu Li, Guanghua Zhu, Zhenlan Wu, Sheng-lian Lu, Liang Liu, Zheng-ping Wang, Bi-xing Sun, Zheng-de Zhu, Nianhe Xia, Liang-zhi Jia, Zhenhua Guo, Wenli Chen, Xiang Chen, Yang Guangyao, Sylvia M. Phillips, Chris Stapleton, Robert J. Soreng, Susan G. Aiken, Nikolai N. Tzvelev, Paul M. Peterson, Stephen A. Renvoize, Marina V. Olonova & Klaus Ammann "Poaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 22. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- "Elymus". in Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 1, 386, 387, 400. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
- Mean = 219.220 meters (719.226 feet), Standard Deviation = 272.590 based on 6,043 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
