orchardgrass

Dactylis glomerata L.

Description from Invasive.org

Appearance

Dactylis glomerata is a cool-season perennial that grows 1.4-4 ft. (0.43-1.2 m) tall. Under dry conditions it usually develops in clumps.

Foliage

Leaves have a bluish hue and grow up to 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) wide, folded when immature but later flat, with prominent white midrib on the under side.

Flowers

The flowers are yellow and occur in a panicle with spikelets in a compact cluster on one side of the rachilla. Flowers bloom from May to August.

Fruit

Panicle, 2-8 in. (5.1-20.3 cm) long, with spikelets grouped together in dense, one-sided clusters at the end of panicle branches; spikelets contain 2 to 5 florets; lemmas pointed to short-awned.

Ecological Threat

Dactylis glomerata is native to Europe and was first introduced to the United States in the late 1700s. It prefers areas that are well-drained with moderately fertile to rich soils.

Selected Images from Invasive.org

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Plant(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Stand extreme grass competition in an old harvest unit at Glenn Ridge, Walla Walla District
Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org
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Flower(s)
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

Flower(s)
Catherine Herms, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s)
Lynn Sosnoskie, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org
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Flower(s) inflorescence.
Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California - Davis, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage