Scientific Name:
Dactylis glomerata
Pronunciation:
DAK-ty-lis glahm-er-AH-tuh
Common Name:
orchard grass
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Herbaceous perennial, Poales (grass-like), Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Strongly tufted grass from fibrous roots, stolons absent, clump forming habit in mowed turf; stems hollow, erect, up to 150cm tall; leaf sheaths closed, venation folded, blades 2-10mm wide, strongly V-shaped in section, light green to bluish green, auricles absent, ligules whitish 2-8mm long, margins finely jagged, fringed with small hairs, and sometimes with jagged top or splitting lengthwise, sheaths keeled, strongly compressed, especially at crown..
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Fine
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa, Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 5: (-29 to -23 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Landscape Uses:
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Summer:
Bluish, Green
Colour in Fall:
Bluish, Green
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Rolled in the bud
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet, Panicle-like
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Green-yellow
Flower Time at Peak:
Jun
Additional Info:
Three to 5 florets per spikelet; and arrranged in panicle; glumes with short hairs.
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Pest Susceptibility:
Rust (Drought tolerant)
