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DESCRIPTION:
Prairie cupgrass is a summer annual. In California
it is predominant on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley, infesting
cultivated crops, orchards, vineyards, and roadsides. Prairie cupgrass
is often mistaken for southwestern
cupgrass
and barnyardgrass.
Its seedlings can be distinguished from those of southwestern cupgrass
by the soft hairs on the leaf blade and leaf sheath. The ligule
is short and less prominent than that of southwestern cupgrass.
Several stems grow from the base of the mature light grayish-green
plants, which stand 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) tall. Stem branching
gives the plants a bushy appearance. In open areas without competition,
prairie cupgrass stems can take on a somewhat spreading growth
habit. Generally, leaves are not as broad as those of southwestern
cupgrass. The panicle has 1 to 2 inch (2.5-5 cm) branches and the
spikelets are arranged in two rows on one side of branches. The
dark, cuplike structure at the base of each spikelet is not as
pronounced as that of southwestern cupgrass.
Grass ID illustration.
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