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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153789
Title: ANNUAL CRESTED WHEATGRASS, COMPETITION FOR CHEATGRASS?

Author
item Young, James
item Clements, Darin - Charlie

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/19/2003
Publication Date: 1/25/2004
Citation: Young, J.A., Clements, D.D. 2004. Annual crested wheatgrass, competition for cheatgrass? [abstract]. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. 57:409.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Annual crested wheatgrass (Eremopyrum triticeum (formerly Agropyron triticeum])was introduced to North America from Central Asia. It is in the same Tribe of grasses, but not closely related to crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum).The seed head looks like a miniature, compacted crested wheatgrass head with the spikelets imbricated and arranged at right angle to the rachis. The awns are short, but very sharp. During the last 5 years, the number and extent of infestations in the Great Basin has greatly increased. It appears to be replacing cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) on drier, lower elevation sites. Annual crested wheatgrass produces little forage when green and is not grazed after seed ripe. Annual crested wheatgrass is another step in the seral communities of exotic invasive weeds that now characterize so much of Intermountain rangelands.