Photo Credit: Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Retrieved from Bugwood.org (Image Number: 1459184), use under CC BY 3.0 US, modified from the original
Common Name: Jointed Goatgrass Scientific Name: Aegilops cylindrica Habitat: farmland, dry grassland, fence lines, disturbed areas Provincial Designation: Prohibited Noxious Prohibited Noxious weeds are plant species designated in the Alberta Weed Control Act. Prohibited noxious weeds must be destroyed when found, meaning all growing parts need to be killed or the plant's reproductive mechanisms need to be rendered non-viable. |
Origin
Jointed Goatgrass is native to southeast Europe and was introduced to North America as a contaminant in wheat. In Canada, it was not discovered until 2006; it was first reported in Ontario.
Legislated Because
This grass is considered a serious problem in winter wheat in the US and is spreading extremely quickly.
Description
Jointed Goatgrass is an annual grass that grows 35-70 cm tall. Its flowers are in narrow cylindrical spikes that are 5-10 cm long. Its leaves are 2-5 cm wide and 3-15 cm long and have short, evenly spaced hairs at the base where they meet the stem.
Can Be Confused With
Many native and ornamental grass species … Please keep your eyes out for it and report to invasiveweeds@edmonton.ca when in doubt.
Learn more about this species:
SeeFact Sheets - Alberta Invasive Species Council