ovate goatgrass
(Aegilops geniculata)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Appearance
Aegilops geniculata is an annual grass that grows in tufts. The rounded stems are geniculate, generally upright, and grow from 4-12 in. (10-30 cm) long. A. geniculata is native to Africa, temperate Asia and Europe.
Foliage
The leaves are pubescent with an eciliate membranous ligule. They are flat and linear from 1.2-3.0 x 0.2-0.9 in. (4-8 cm x 1.5-3 mm) long by wide.
Flowers
The inflorescence is made up of racemes. The fertile spikelets are urn-shaped. Glumes have distinctive awns from 0.8-1.4 in. (2-3.5 cm) long.
Fruit
The fruit is a caryopsis that is ellipsoid in shape with a longitudinal groove. The fruit is hairy at the apex and contains a single seed.
Ecological Threat
A. geniculata can be found growing along roadsides, ditches, abandoned fields and other disturbed sites.
Citation
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Aegilops geniculata is an annual grass that grows in tufts. The rounded stems are geniculate, generally upright, and grow from 4-12 in. (10-30 cm) long. A. geniculata is native to Africa, temperate Asia and Europe.
Foliage
The leaves are pubescent with an eciliate membranous ligule. They are flat and linear from 1.2-3.0 x 0.2-0.9 in. (4-8 cm x 1.5-3 mm) long by wide.
Flowers
The inflorescence is made up of racemes. The fertile spikelets are urn-shaped. Glumes have distinctive awns from 0.8-1.4 in. (2-3.5 cm) long.
Fruit
The fruit is a caryopsis that is ellipsoid in shape with a longitudinal groove. The fruit is hairy at the apex and contains a single seed.
Ecological Threat
A. geniculata can be found growing along roadsides, ditches, abandoned fields and other disturbed sites.
Citation
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzländer. 2014. New Invaders of the Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/pdfs/FHTET-2014-12_NW_New_Invaders.pdf
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Lilianae |
| Order: Poales |
| Family: Poaceae |
| Subfamily: Pooideae |
| Tribe: Triticeae |
| Genus: Aegilops |
| Aegilops geniculata |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.