Cool Season (C3) Grasses

Scientific Name Common Name Photo Monoculture Plot Growth Description
Agropyron repens Quack grass
Quack grass

Poaceae. Grass. No ligule. Mostly without hairs, but some may be present on sheath. Clasping auricles. Leaves are broad with distinct midvein and are usually rough. Similar species in Bromus inermis, but B. inermis has a sealed sheath. Agropyron repen sinflorescence is tight while B. inermis inflorescence is loose.
Bromus inermis Smooth brome n/a

Poaceae. Grass. No ligule. Tall, leafy grass. The only grass with a sealed sheath. Usually in the middle of the leaf blade there is an impression of the letter “V” or “W”, vertical on the leaf. Has a loose inflorescence. Similar species: Agropyron repens.   Agropyron repenshas no sealed sheath, no “W” on leaf, and clasping auricles.
Koeleria cristata Junegrass
Junegrass

Poaceae. Grass. Strongly venated. Blue/green coloration. Short hairs on both side of blade, hairs on bottom of the blade not easily seen. Short ligule. Similar species isPoa pratensis.
Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass

Poaceae. Grass. No ligule (in 99% of the cases). Leaves are long, thin, typically folded, and have canoe-shaped tips. Stalk is more rounded than flat. Node is distinctive: the leaves fall away from the stalk at a distinct 45 degree angle. The seedhead is loose and often falls to one side. Similar species are Koeleria cristata (more distinct veins than P. pratensis) andSchizachyrium scoparium (plant base much flatter than P. pratensis).