Aegilops cylindrica
Jointed Goatgrass
A wild patch of Jointed Goatgrass. |
The narrow seedheads. |
Three individual sessile joints. It is a true spike. |
A spikelet in anthesis showing the anthers. Photo by Randall Morgan. |
Inflorescences and separated joints. Long apical awns, other awns short. |
The whole plant showing the roots. Some stems are bent at the nodes. |
A handful of goatgrass joints (spikelets), each about a half inch long (12 mm). Dry joints break apart easily. |
This goatgrass joint has the rachilla pulled to the side. It is the appendage that holds the next higher joint. |
The four long apical awns of goatgrass. You can see the much shorter lower awns as well. |
How to Identify Jointed Goatgrass
Aegilops cylindrica, an annual grass, is one of the easiest grasses in Arizona to identify. The seedhead is very hard. It is thin and cylindrical. Four long awns protrude from the apex. The "joints" (spikelets) with their shorter awns come apart easily, especially when dry. Jointed Goatgrass is found in all the counties of Northern Arizona plus Pima and Cochise Counties.
Similar Species
The only look-alike in Arizona is the rare Aegilops tauschii which occurs only in Cochise County. Its joints are noticeably shorter, only about 1/4 inch (6 mm).