Stem
- Wirelike, 6-28 in. tall, erect and slender
Leaves
- Flat, narrow leaves, 0.6-2 in. long; leaves at base of plant; ligules are membranous and 0.04-0.15 in. long
Flower
- Relaxed, open panicle, 8-10 in. long with spikelets at the end of spreading branches holding 3 florets 0.6 in. long; at least 1 floret will have a twisted awn 0.75-1 in. long attached to the lemma
Other
- Grows in open, disturbed areas and along roadsides; can establish on bare, dry soils; known to occur in Elko, Eureka and Washoe counties
- Winter annual; high in silica, litter builds up on soil surface, similar to medusahead
- Can be grazed early in the season, unpalatable to livestock as seedhead develops
Control
- Hand-pulling is effective for small infestations; mowing can prevent seed production, repeated mowing may be required; burning can remove thatch, but it does not control the seedbank
- Indaziflam or imazapic preemergence herbicides can be applied in the fall, preferably after the thatch layer is removed; glyphosate or rimsulfuron can be applied to actively growing plants
Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B.
2020,
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Ventenata,
Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide
