Origin
Native to southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Appearance
Ventenata dubia is an introduced tufted annual grass. The stem is erect, 1.5-7 dm, and appears smooth, although tiny hairs are noticeable when magnified.

Foliage
The leaf ligule is 1-6 mm long and the blade is 1-3 mm wide.

Flowers
Inflorescences are panicle-like, 3-10 cm long and open. The branches often spread until they droop. Spikelets (10-15 mm long) are near the branch tips and are stalked. The glumes are lancelolate, and end in a sharp tip. The lemmas have bent awns arising from their backs, much like those of wild oats (A. barbata, A. fatua). The upper 1-2 florets are bisexual.

Fruit
The fruit is a grain.

Ecological Threat
V. dubia has established itself in a number of states in the USA and provinces in Canada. V. dubia has the following characteristics:

• It is weedy in disturbed areas such as alongside roads and in fields.
• It is highly invasive in bluegrass, alfalfa, winter wheat, pasture, and rangeland.
• It can impede mechanical harvesting equipment.

Selected Images

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Maps

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Invasive Listing Sources

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• California Invasive Plant Council
• Colorado Noxious Weeds
• Montana Noxious Weeds
• Native Plant Society of Oregon, 2008
• Nevada EDRR
• Nevada Noxious Weeds
• Oregon Noxious Weeds
• Utah Noxious Weeds - Early Detection
• Washington Noxious Weeds
• Wyoming Noxious Weeds

References

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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.