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goatgrass

Scientific Name: Aegilops speltoides

Family: Poaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Goatgrass (Aegilops spp.)

Goatgrasses belong to the genus Aegilops, a group of plants within the grass family, Poaceae. They are native to Eurasia and North America. Several species are noteworthy, including barbed goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) and jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica).

Considerations for Pets

  • Some species, like Aegilops triuncialis, have sharp-pointed seeds that can cause injury if eaten by livestock.

Considerations for Children

  • Some species, like Aegilops triuncialis, have sharp-pointed seeds.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Aegilops spp.
  • Common Names: Goatgrass, Barbed Goatgrass, Jointed Goatgrass
  • Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
  • Aegilops cylindrica is also referred to as Aegilops cylindrica (Aka Jointgrass).
  • USDA Symbol for Aegilops cylindrica: AECY

Distribution and Habitat

  • Goatgrasses are native to Eurasia and North America.
  • Aegilops triuncialis is native to many areas in Eastern and Mediterranean Europe.
  • Aegilops cylindrica (Jointed Goatgrass) is found in all western states of the U.S. and in all major United States winter wheat production regions, from Texas to South Dakota and eastern Montana.
  • Aegilops cylindrica was introduced to North America from southeast Europe in the late 1800s.
  • Aegilops triuncialis (barb goatgrass) grows in rangelands, grasslands, and oak woodlands.
  • Aegilops cylindrica grows best in cultivated fields but can also invade non-cultivated areas.

Ecological Role

  • Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) is considered an invasive plant in many regions.
  • It competes with crops for water and nutrients, reducing the quality and yield of wheat and other crops.
  • It is estimated that jointed goatgrass is spreading at a rate of 50,000 acres per year.
  • In some regions, such as Western Australia, Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica) is a declared pest.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Aegilops cylindrica (Jointed Goatgrass) is a winter annual grass.
  • It can reach 4 ft (1.2 m) in height.
  • The leaves are alternate, up to 0.5 in. (1.2 cm) wide.
  • It is vegetatively similar to wheat in the seed stage.
  • The leaves are alternately arranged with auricles at their base.
  • It is difficult to distinguish from wheat until spikes appear.
  • Erect grass with one to many erect stems or tillers.

Genetic Information

  • Aegilops cylindrica and winter wheat are polyploid, with one genome (D) in common.
  • The wheat X jointed goatgrass hybrid can only serve as a female.
  • Jointed goatgrass (CD genomes) is a major weed of winter bread wheat (ABD genomes).

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Aegilops cylindrica can hybridize with winter wheat and reduce wheat crop yields.
  • Introgression of leaf rust and stripe rust resistance from Sharon goatgrass (Aegilops sharonensis Eig) into bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is possible.

Quirky Facts

  • Goat grass weighs 0.80 oz.

Further Information

  • Integrated Management of Jointed Goatgrass in the Pacific Northwest. EB2042
  • Field Guide for Managing Jointed Goatgrass in the Southwest. Forest Service. September 2014. Southwestern Region. TP-R3-16-29. United States
  • EB1932. Jointed Goatgrass. Ecology.
  • Barb. Goatgrass: A Threat to California Rangelands. A. Peters, D.E. Johnson and M.R. George, February 1996.
  • Colorado Department of Agriculture Website for Jointed Goatgrass.
  • USDA APHIS PPQ Archive, USDA APHIS PPQ, Bugwood.org.