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Grass Weed Identification

Folded Leaves

Rolled Leaves

• Compare the specimen to establish whether leaves are rolled, folded or bristle
• Use the characteristics e.g. auricles, to identify the specimen
• Use the table below to confirm the identification
• Follow the links from the table for flowering stages of the weeds

Couch Grass (Elymus repens)	Description; Perennial that spreads by extended agressive white rhizomes. Hairiness is variable Auricles; short and pointed Ligule; short, approximately 1mm Leaf blade; extended, tapering to a point, flat, usually green Sheath; rounded and split without a keel, lower leaves can be hairy Seedling; tall and narrow leaves, which are darker green, and grow to a sharp point.
Onion Couch (Arrhenatherum elatius)	Description; tall perennial with very bulbous nodules at the base Auricles; none Ligule; up to 3mm, blunt appearance Leaf blade; narrow, rough, long, can be hairy Sheath; slightly keeled at the back and split, can be hairy.
Barren Brome (Bromus Sterilis)	Description; annual grass, tall and tufted Auricles; none Ligule; heavily serrated and pointed. Approx 4mm Leaf Blade; starts green, goes to purple, very pointed, surfaces covered with short hairs, rolled in bud Sheath; plant is tubular, but splits to reveal short soft hairs Seedlings; coleoptile coloured seedling
Meadow Brome (Bromus commutatus)	Description; tufted annual, slightly hairy, germinates spring to autumn Auricles; none Ligule; begins white, later torn appearance, 1-4 mm long Leaf Blade; green, moderately hairy Sheath; tubular, light hair to down
Soft Brome (Bromus hordeaceus ssp.hordeaceus)	Description; variable tufted annual Auricles; none Ligule; short, hairy and serrated approx. 2mm Leaf Blade; broad green/grey, pointed with short hairs Sheath; hairy, although upper sheath may be hairless, no red veins Seedling; hairy leaves
Rye Brome (Bromus secalinus)	Description; tufted biennial, germinates in autumn Auricles; none Ligule; toothed, brown, yellowish, short 1-2mm Leaf Blade; thinly hairy, frequently twisted, narrowing to a point Sheath; lightly hairy, strong veining, yellow to reddish colour
Rough Stalked Meadow-Grass (Poa travialis)	Description; tufted perennial, spread by stolons, bigger than Annual Meadow-grass and can have red/brown tint Auricles; none Ligule; longer top leaves, pointed 4-10mm Leaf Blade; green, shiny and keeled with rounded tip Sheath; usually rough and keeled Seedling; similar to Annual Meadow-grass, lower leaf usually shiny
Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis)	Description; tufted perennial, spread by rhizomes, which are similar to Couch Auricles; none Ligule; upper ligule short 3mm, lower ones very short Leaf Blade; dark green/grey, rounded point, lower leaves keeled and hairless Sheath; smooth and slightly keeled Seedling; identical to Rough Stalked Meadow-grass
Italian Rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum)	Description; tufted and leafy, annual or biennial, leaves rolled in the shoot with large auricles Auricles; thin when young which become prominent and spread with age Ligule; width small, approx. 2mm Leaf Blade; finely pointed, hairless, dark green in colour, upper side ribbed, smooth and shiny, rolled in the bud Sheath; tubular or split, smooth finish usually rounded, base often red/brown Seedling; shiny, with leaves rolled
Perennial Rye-grass (Lolium perenne)	Description; dark green tufted perennial, similar to Couch, but no rhizomes, underside of leaf shiny Auricles; if present, small Ligule; stubby and short 1mm Leaf Blade; dark green, hairless, distinct ribbing, lower leaves smooth and shiny Sheath; smooth, red/brown when young
Yorkshire-fog (Holcus lanatus)	Description; very hairy perennial with long hair. Auricles; none Ligule; 1.4mm blunt and hairy Leaf Blade; green/grey, narrows to a point, has a velvety hairy surface Sheath; rounded, hairy and blue/green, often with violet stripes
Creeping Bent (Agrostis stolonifera)	Description; perennial, spreads by rooting stolons, has a longer ligule and finer leaves than Couch Auricles; none Ligule; up to 5mm, pointed tip Leaf Blade; hairless and rolled until maturity, green, grey or blue tint Sheath; smooth, rounded and split, can have red/blue tint Seedling; very fine and narrow first leaf
Loose Silky-bent (Apera spica-venti)	Description; annual grass, tall and erect Auricles; none Ligule; long 3-10mm Leaf blade; narrow and hairless Sheath; smooth
Creeping Soft-grass (Holcus mollis)	Description; spreading perennial, with short sturdy rhizomes Auricles; none Ligule; medium size, 1-5mm, rounded Leaf blade; can be hairless, or have short hairs, green/grey colour Sheath; red tinted, short with soft hairs or hairless
Cock's Foot (Dactylis glomerata)	Description; perennial, densely tufted Auricles; none Ligule; up to 12mm Leaf blade; sharply pointed, broad with a coarse surface, and strongly keeled giving a flattened look Sheath; back and front keeled, and coarse surface
Wild Oat (Avena Spp.)	Description; annual, upright tall grass, similar to cultivated oat Auricles; none Ligule; blunt, up to 6mm Leaf blade; broad and rough, with anti-clockwise twist Sheath; split, occasionally hairy Seedling; resembles cereals, but has anti-clockwise twist visible at 2-3 leaves
Annual Meadow-grass (Poa annua)	Description; tufted annual, or short life perennial can germinate throughout the year Auricles; none Ligule; round pointed and serrated 2-5mm Leaf blade; pale green, often crinkly or puckered, slightly keeled Sheath; split or smooth keeled Seedling; erect first leaf, upper part tapers to rounded point