spring millet
(Milium vernale)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Appearance
An annual grass that is native to Eurasia. First detection in North America was in Idaho in 1987.
Foliage
Stems are hollow, 10-70(90) cm, erect, solitary or clumped, surface mildly rough or scabrous; 2-3 nodes, free of hairs, green to purple. Leaf sheaths mildly rough or scabrous; tissue or membrane where leaf connects to stem 2.5-4.5 mm, obtuse to acute, occasionally sharp. Leaf blades 1.7-8.2 cm long, 1.9-5 mm wide, scabrous over the veins, the majority concentrated on the lower portion of the stems.
Flowers
Seed heads are panicles 4-11.5 cm long; branches 0.5-6 cm, straight, ascending to erect, scabrous, spikelets confined to the end 1/2. Glumes (leaf-like structure below a spikelet) 2.5-3.2 mm, mildly rough or scabrous, 3-veined, tapering to a point; lemmas (leaf-like structure around spikelet) 2-2.3 mm; anthers about 1.5 mm.
An annual grass that is native to Eurasia. First detection in North America was in Idaho in 1987.
Foliage
Stems are hollow, 10-70(90) cm, erect, solitary or clumped, surface mildly rough or scabrous; 2-3 nodes, free of hairs, green to purple. Leaf sheaths mildly rough or scabrous; tissue or membrane where leaf connects to stem 2.5-4.5 mm, obtuse to acute, occasionally sharp. Leaf blades 1.7-8.2 cm long, 1.9-5 mm wide, scabrous over the veins, the majority concentrated on the lower portion of the stems.
Flowers
Seed heads are panicles 4-11.5 cm long; branches 0.5-6 cm, straight, ascending to erect, scabrous, spikelets confined to the end 1/2. Glumes (leaf-like structure below a spikelet) 2.5-3.2 mm, mildly rough or scabrous, 3-veined, tapering to a point; lemmas (leaf-like structure around spikelet) 2-2.3 mm; anthers about 1.5 mm.
Selected Images
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 |
| Genus: Milium |
| Milium vernale |
References
Common Name Reference: Weed Science Society of America Common Names List
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.