Pasture Grasses Identified
Table of Contents
Introduction
Grasses are an important component of pastures in Ontario. In mixed legume
and grass pastures, the grasses reduce the danger from bloat, help
to keep weeds out and improve the chances of stands surviving the
winter. Grass pastures can supply good yields of quality feed, and
the wide selection of grass species means that there is a grass
to suit almost any growing condition or management need.
This Factsheet identifies the main grass species that are used
in pasture seed mixtures, as well as one weed species - quack grass.
Quack grass is a common component in most pastures and is a good
source of nutrition before it matures. Agronomic information for
the cultivated species can be found in OMAFRA Publication 811, Agronomy
Guide for Field Crops.
Figure 1. Leaf Characteristics
Identification
Grasses can easily be identified by looking at the leaves, stems and
inflorescences (seed heads). The drawings on the following pages show
things to check when looking at each of these plant parts.
Leaves
A leaf consists of 2 parts - the sheath and the blade (see
Figure 1).
Sheath
The sheath is the tubular portion that surrounds the stem or younger
growing leaves. The sheath can be:
- split, with margins separate
- split, with margins overlapping
- closed, forming a tube around the stem, with only a small notch on
the side opposite to the leaf blade (Figure 2, below).
Figure 2. Sheath types
Blade
The blade is the upper, non-clasping part of the leaf. It is usually
long and flat but may be slightly folded or rolled lengthwise, and
bristle-like (Figure 3, below).
Figure 3. View of the cross-section of a leaf
blade.
The tip of the blade can be boat-shaped, or tapered and flat (Figure
4, below).
Figure 4. Leaf tip shapes
Collar
The area that divides the sheath and the blade is called the collar (see
Figure 1). It can also offer clues to a grass's identity. The collar may
be broad or narrow, have a conspicuous midrib or be continuous from one
edge of the leaf to the other (Figure 5, below).
Figure 5. Collar types (seen from the back of
the leaf blade)
Auricles and Ligules
Two types of appendages may be found on the collar. Auricles are claw-like
and project from the sides of the collar. They are often absent, but when
present they may vary from being large and clasping to small and slender
(Figure 6, below).
Figure 6. Aurical types
The ligule is a very thin, tongue-like appendage growing upward from
the inner surface of the collar between the leaf blade and the stem. If
present, it may be just a fringe of hair or a thin membrane (Figure 7,
below).
Figure 7. Ligule types
Stems
The flowering stems of grasses are usually hollow and are either round
or flat (Figure 8, below).
Inflorescences
There are three forms of seed heads (Figure 9, below): panicle (branching),
spike (unbranched, with uniformly spaced spikelets) and spike-like panicle
(unbranched, with uniformly spaced spikelets).
Figure 9 Types of inflorescence
Timothy
Our most commonly used forage grass. It is a light-green bunchgrass.
The sheath is split with overlapping margins. The blade is 4-12 mm wide,
7-25 cm long and flat with a sharp-pointed tip. The collar is broad and
continuous. There are no auricles. The ligule is a white membrane with
a distinct notch and tooth on each side. The stems are round and 50-100
cm tall. The inflorescence is a very dense, spike-like panicle.
Distinguishing features
Flat, light-green, nearly smooth leaf blades and onion-like bulbs or
corms at the base of the stems.
Figure 10a - Grass Species (Timothy)
Figure 10b - Collar (Timothy)
Smooth Bromegrass
Varies in colour from light to dark green. It has brownish,
blunt-tipped rhizomes covered with brown, scale-like sheaths and forms
an open sod.
The sheath is closed. The blade is 4-12 mm wide, 15-40 cm
long and flat with a sharp, pointed tip. The collar is narrow and divided
by the mid-rib. There are no auricles. The ligule is a very short membrane.
The stems are round and 60-120 cm tall. The inflorescence is a large panicle
with the branches spreading in all directions. When top heavy, the branches
shift over to one side.
Distinguishing features
A constriction resembling the letter "W" usually
in the leaf blade about midway between the tip and the collar.
Figure 11a - Grass Species (Smooth
Bromegrass)
Figure 11b - Collar (Smooth Bromegrass)
Meadow Bromegrass
An under-used grass in pastures in Ontario. It has a high
number of light-green, hairy leaves. It is a bunchgrass with a high re-growth
and recovery rate.
The sheath is closed to near the top and is hairy. The blade
is 2-5 mm wide, 10-30 cm long and is flat with a sharp point tip. It is
also hairy on both upper and lower surfaces. The collar is narrow and
divided at the midrib. There are no auricles. The ligule is a short, white
membrane not unlike the smooth brome species. The stems are round and
60-90 cm tall. The inflorescence is a large panicle with branches in all
directions. It is a bit smaller than smooth bromegrass and has short awns.
Distinguishing features
The hairy blades and sheaths, and the many, drooping basal
leaves distinguish this grass from smooth bromegrass.
Figure 12a - Grass Species (Meadow
Bromegrass)
Figure 12b - Collar (Meadow Bromegrass)
Orchard Grass
A fast-growing light-green bunchgrass.
The sheath is split part way and is green on the top and
pale green or white on the lower part. The blade is 5-12 mm wide and 8-40
cm long. It is V-shaped near the base, but flat towards the sharp, pointed
tip. The yellow-green collar is broad and divided by a midrib. There are
no auricles. The ligule is a white membrane that usually has an awn-like
point at the top. The stems are flat and 90-150 cm tall. The inflorescence
is a panicle made up of several short, thick tufts.
Distinguishing features
The flat stems and the coarsely tufted panicle.
Figure 13a
Figure 13b
Reed Canary Grass
A large, coarse grass noted for its ability to grow in very
wet or very dry soils. It forms a loose sod.
The sheath is split with overlapping margins. The blade is 6-15 mm wide,
10-30 cm long and flat with a sharp-pointed tip. The pale green or yellow
collar is narrow and continuous. There are no auricles. The ligule is
a white membrane that sometimes tears at the top with maturity. Stems
are round. The inflorescence is a panicle similar to orchard grass but
with finer tufts.
Distinguishing features
Wide leaf blades and edges of the blade constricted 5 cm
from either the tip or the collar.
Figure 14a Grass Species (Reed Canary
Grass)
Figure 14b Collar (Reed Canary Grass)
Creeping Red Fescue
A sod-forming grass that has narrow, bristle-like dark green
leaves.
The sheath is split part way and covered with fine hairs.
The blade is 1.5-3 mm wide, 5-15 cm long, thick and rolled or folded lengthwise.
The upper surface is deeply ridged, and the undersurface is shiny. The
collar is narrow and continuous. There are no auricles. The ligule is
a very short membrane. The stems are nearly round. The inflorescence is
an open, fine panicle.
Distinguishing features
Dark-green, very slender and bristle-like leaves; old, dead
basal leaf sheaths are reddish brown (hence the common name).
Figure 15a Grass Species (Creeping
Red Fescue)
Figure 15b Collar (Creeping Red Fescue)
Meadow Fescue
A deep-rooted, bright-green grass. Usually a bunchgrass,
it has short rhizomes and may be weakly creeping.
The sheath is split with the margins overlapping at the
bottom. The blade is 3-8 mm wide and 10-50 cm long, the upper side is
dull and the lower side shiny. The edges are rough, and the tip is sharp-pointed.
The collar is broad and continuous. The auricles are 0.5-1.5 mm long and
usually blunt but sometimes claw like. The ligule is a very short membrane.
The stems are round and 60-125 cm tall. The inflorescence is a slender
panicle.
Distinguishing features
Rough leaf edges, short ligules and claw-like auricles.
Figure 16a Grass Species (Meadow
Fescue)
Figure 16b Collar (Meadow Fescue)
Tall Fescue
A deep-rooted grass that produces well during the summer
and retains its feed quality after being frosted. This deep green grass
forms large (10-40 cm diameter), dense bunches, even though it has short
rhizomes.
The sheath is split with the margins overlapping. The sheaths
are smooth, thick and leathery, and the lower ones are very slow to decay.
The blade is 4-12 mm wide, 20-70 cm long and flat with a sharp-pointed
tip. It is thick and leathery, very smooth and shiny on the under-surface
but dull and deeply ridged on the upper surface. The edges are rough.
The yellowish collar is broad and wrinkled on the edges. The yellowish
auricles are soft and wavy and have a few fine hairs along their margins.
The ligule is a small membrane. The stems are round and 90-150 cm tall.
The inflorescence is a spreading panicle.
Distinguishing features
Its tall, coarse growth, the prominently ribbed leathery
dark green leaves, and the thick tussocks formed by the accumulation of
old dead leaf sheaths for several years.
Figure 17a Grass Species (Tall Fescue)
Figure 17b Collar (Tall Fescue)
Meadow Foxtail
An early, fast growing, dark-green grass that looks similar
to timothy. It grows well on moist soils and forms a sod.
The sheath is split with the margins overlapping. The blade
is 3-8 mm wide, 10-15 cm long and flat with a sharp-pointed tip; the edges
are rough. The upper surface is prominently ribbed. The light-green or
yellow, medium-broad collar is divided by the midrib. There are no auricles.
The ligule is a coarse membrane that is slightly hairy and striated. The
stems are round and 50-100 cm tall. The inflorescence is a dense, spike-like
panicle and looks like timothy. The short, soft awns along the sides of
the seed head give the appearance of a fox's tail.
Distinguishing features
The rough leaf edges, the type of ligule, and the collar
divided by the midribs distinguish meadow foxtail from timothy.
Figure 18a Grass Species (Meadow
Foxtail)
Figure 18b Collar (Meadow Foxtail)
Kentucky Bluegrass
A dark-green grass that forms a dense sod in pastures with
fertile, well-drained soils.
The sheath is closed when the plant is young but later splits.
The blade is 2-5 mm wide, 5-40 cm long and V-shaped with a boat-shaped
tip. It is shiny on the under-surface. The yellowish-green collar is broad
and slightly divided by the midrib. There are no auricles. The ligule
is a very short membrane. The stems are somewhat flattened and 30-100
cm tall. The inflorescence is an open, fine panicle with 5 branches at
each node of the central axis.
Distinguishing features
The dark green colour and the shininess of the underside
of leaves plus the boat-shaped leaf tips. The lead blade, when held up
to the light, looks as if it has two transparent lines on each side of
the midrib.
Figure 19a Grass Species (Kentucky
Bluegrass)
Figure 19b Collar (Kentucky Bluegrass)
Canada Bluegrass
A bluish-green grass commonly found in run-down pastures.
It forms an open sod.
The sheath is split. The blade is 2-5 mm wide, 2-10 cm long,
and flat to V-shaped with a boat-shaped tip. The light-green collar is
narrow and divided by the midrib. There are no auricles. The ligule is
a short membrane. The stems are flat, and 50-75 cm tall. The inflorescence
is a slender, fine panicle with 2 branches at each node of the central
axis.
Distinguishing features
The pale bluish-green colour and dullness of leaves, which
taper gradually from the collar to their boat-shaped tips. The leaf blade,
when held up to light, looks as if it has a fine transparent line on each
side of the midrib.
Figure 20a Grass Species (Canada
Bluegrass)
Figure 20b Collar (Canada Bluegrass)
Perennial Ryegrass
A soft, fine, bright-green grass that has a fibrous root
system. It is short-lived despite its name.
The pale-green sheath can be either closed or split. The blade is 2-6
mm wide, 5-15 cm long and V-shaped, with a sharp-pointed tip. It is prominently
ribbed on the top and smooth and shiny on the bottom. The collar is narrow.
The auricles are small, soft and claw-like. The ligule is a thin membrane
that is toothed at the top. The stems are flat and short, 30-60 cm tall.
The inflorescence is a slender, stiff spike with each spikelet edgewise
on the central axis.
Distinguishing features
The somewhat flattened or round stems, the shiny undersides
of the bright green leaf blades, the soft, claw-like auricles and the
spike inflorescence.
Figure 21a Grass Species (Perennial
Ryegrass)
Figure 21b Collar (Perennial Ryegrass)
Red Top
A common grass in pastures that have moderately moist soils.
It has dark-green leaves and somewhat purplish inflorescences, which turn
rusty red as they mature. It forms an open sod.
The sheath is split, with the margins overlapping. The blade
is 2-7 mm wide, 5-20 cm long and flat with a sharp, pointed tip. It is
prominently ridged on the upper surface, and the midrib is distinct on
the bottom side. The pale green collar is large and V-shaped. There are
no auricles. The ligule is a thin, pointed membrane that is very tall.
The inflorescence is a fine panicle that is a rusty-red colour at maturity.
Distinguishing features
The prominently ridged upper surface of the blade, the tall
ligule and the absence of auricles.
Figure 22a Grass Species (Red Top)
Figure 22b Collar (Red Top)
Quack Grass
A commonly found grass that is known for its long rhizome
system that produces a loose but tough-to-kill sod.
The sheath is split, with the margins overlapping. It may
be smooth but is usually very hairy. The blade is 3-10 mm wide, 8-20 cm
long and flat with a sharp-pointed tip. It is slightly hairy on the upper
surface. The collar is V-shaped and divided by the midrib. It is finely
hairy. The auricles are 1-3 mm long, slender and clasping. The ligule
is a short, finely toothed membrane. The stems are round and 50-100 cm
tall. The inflorescence is a slender, stiff spike with each little spikelet
placed flat-wise on the central axis.
Distinguishing features
The slender, erect stems normally with hairy, split-leaf
sheaths, clasping auricles and a short ligule; and a tough sod full of
light-coloured rhizomes with hard, white, sharp, pointed tips.
Figure 23a Grass Species (Quack Grass)
Figure 23b Collar (Quack Grass)
