MINNESOTA WEEDS, SERIES III 7 



INDIVIDUAL WEEDS 



Blue Joint Grass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.j 



Other common names. — Western wheat grass, western couch grass, 

 Colorado bluestem. 



Description. — Western wheat grass is a perennial which is very 

 closely related to quack grass, but is not, however, considered a very 

 serious weed pest. It is becoming quite common throughout the state. 

 This grass grows quite abundantly in the western states, especially on 

 alkali soil, and is considered a fairly good forage grass. The leaves 

 are rough and very rigid and have a bluish green color by means of 

 which patches of western wheat grass can* usually be readily distin- 

 guished from other grasses. It spreads by both seeds and under- 

 ground stems. The straw-colored seeds, which mature in July and 

 August, are very similar to those of quack grass and can be distin- 

 guished only when the seeds are carefully examined under a powerful 

 lens. The seeds of western wheat grass are often found in the com- 

 mercial brome grass, alfalfa, timothy, and red clover seed. 



Eradication. — Western wheat grass is not hard to eradicate and is 

 usually considered a desirable forage plant rather than a weed. It 

 yields readily to cultivation, and cropping the land to grain or culti- 

 vated crops will subdue it in nearly all types of soil. Seed formation 

 should, of course, be prevented to avoid reseeding where not wanted. 



Nodding Wild Rye ( Elymus canadensis L.) 



Other common names. — Wild rye, lyme grass, bunch grass (British 

 Columbia), rye grass. 



Description. — Nodding wild rye is a perennial grass common 

 throughout the state, and grows equally well in sandy, black, or clay 

 soil. It is usually from two to three feet high and has stout nodding 

 spikes from four to six inches long with long, wavy awns. These 

 awns are sometimes injurious to grazing animals, penetrating the ears, 

 eyes, and nostrils. The root system is fibrous and there are no long 

 underground stems. The plant spreads chiefly by its seeds which, 

 however, are seldom found in any commercial seed except that of 

 brome grass, in which it is often found. 



