Stem

8-16 in. tall

Barbed goatgrass stem

Leaves

Gray green, 1-4 in. long, ridged and sharp; sparsely covered with long white hairs; ligules are
membranous and auricles are clasping

Barbed goatgrass

Flower

Seedheads are 1-2.5 in. long, reddish or purplish then dry to straw color; each spike has 4 sessile spikelets with 1-2 florets each; 3 long, stiff awns come from each glume; awns and glumes are all minutely barbed

Barbed goatgrass seed

Root

Fibrous; spikelet that led to germination often still attached to base of plant

Barbed goatgrass root

Other

Infests rangelands, grasslands, pastures and croplands; known to occur in Washoe county
Winter annual; seeds viable for 2+ years; high silica content produces persistent thatch layer
Livestock avoid mature plants due to awns; seedheads stick to clothing and fur
Can crossbreed with wheat, producing sterile seed and unsaleable wheat

Control

Hand pulling or hoeing is effective on small infestations; mowing is ineffective as plants will regrow; deep tilling can place seeds below sprouting depth, but repeated tilling can bring buried seeds to the surface; burning of infested fields may be effective, but will not control seedbank
Glyphosate effective on actively growing plants before flowering; chlorsulfuron, imazapic, sulfometuron are effective preemergence and early post emergence

Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Barbed goatgrass, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch

Also of Interest:


Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Jointed goatgrass Jointed goatgrass is a noxious weed that has been identified by the state of Nevada to be harmful to agriculture, the general public, or the environment. Learn more about this weed. Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Associated Programs

Master Gardeners of Douglas County

Learn about the Master Gardener program in Douglas County, Nevada.

Master Gardeners of Washoe County

Master Gardeners provide free, research-based horticulture information to Nevadans.

Master Gardeners of Nevada

Program trains local gardeners to provide research-based horticulture information to Nevadans

Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Barbed goatgrass