Dactylis glomerata

Orchardgrass


Field view of Dactylis glomerata or Orchardgrass

Field view of Dactylis glomerata, common name Orchardgrass. This grass is topped by a bunch of "gloms."

 Closer View of Orchardgrass Panicle

Closer view showing the clumped bunches of spikes that I call "gloms" to remind me of its name.

 Orchardgrass along the Trail

Dactylis glomerata along a trail at Cave Springs, Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona.

Close-up of Orchardgrass Clumped Spikelets

Orchardgrass in anthesis shows a distinctive clumpiness.

 Orchardgrass Close View Shows Spikelets

The clustered spikelets of Dactylis glomerata.

 Closest View Shows Anthers

During anthesis, yellow anthers extend from between the lemma and palea of each floret.

The Lush Leaves of Orchardgrass

Orchardgrass is a perennial bunchgrass, so you can expect a relatively lush basal leaf growth.

 Wide Green Leaves

Close view of wide green leaves.

 Orchardgrass When Dry

A view of Orchardgrass after it is dry.

How to Identify Orchardgrass

  Orchardgrass has the Latin name Dactylis glomerata, and I use that name to remember that it has "gloms." The seedheads consist of rounded fascicles, or packets of spikelets, hence "gloms." Orchard grass is a cool-season perennial bunchgrass that stands fairly tall, about waist to shoulder high.


Similar Species

   Marsh Muhly has facicles that could be called "gloms." It looks rather similar to Orchardgrass but usually is more compact and spike-like or "puff-like."