Identification and Reproduction

Introduction

• Cheatgrass is an annual or winter annual grass (Poaceae family) that grows in tufts.
• It has green, erect and slender stems. When mature it will grow to 75 centimetres.
• This plant has drooping spikelets or inflorencence that are multi-branched in a terminal cluster. These flower heads are soft and feathery. 

Reproduction

It reproduces only by seeds, which can be moved by wind, animals, or people. 

Habitat & Ecology

• Cheatgrass grows easily on disturbed sites and will commonly invade burned rangeland, heavily grazed grasses, and other open areas.
• It is commonly found in southern B.C., in grasslands, dry forests, or winter cover crops.

Impacts

Ecological:

• It is extremely invasive and tends to seed earlier than native species. Cheatgrass displaces native vegetation and reduces biodiversity.
• It has an extensive root system that tends to lower the site's water availability. 
• Cheatgrass seasonally dries out by mid-June and adds wildfire fuel altering the fire regime of the area. 

Management

• Cheatgrass should be prevented by regular monitoring of disturbed or grassy areas.
• It can also be prevent through land management, for example by maintaining a diversity of vegetation.

Resources

For information on cheatgrass identification and control check out the Columbia University's page on cheatgrass. 

Header photo (Famartin).