Ventenata (Ventenata dubia)

Category A weed

Grasses family (Poaceae)

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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

Root

  • Shallow fibrous roots

Other

  • Grows in open, disturbed areas and along roadsides; can establish on bar, dry soils; known to occur in Elko, Eureka and Washoe counties.
  • Winter annual; high in silica, litter builds up on soild surface, similar to medusahead
  • Can be grazed early in the season, unpalatable to livestock as seedhead develops

Control

  • Hand-pulling 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

Images

Mature plant
Roots
Inflorescence
Spikelets