Elymus repens

This grass has a rather coarse appearance. It is still referred to as Agropyron repens (Quack Grass) by many authors, which is a scientific synonym for this species. Quack Grass usually has leaf blades that are 1/4" to 1/3" across, while other Agropyron spp. (Wheat Grasses) in Illinois have more slender leaf blades (up to 1/5" across). This genus of grasses occurs primarily in dry sunny areas of the plains and western states. Recently, some species in this genus have been reassigned to either the Elytrigia or Elymus genus. Most of these species have spikelets in which the individual glumes and lemmas are easily separated from each other; individual spikelets do not detach in their entirety from their peduncles. Exceptions are Quack Grass and Elytrigia smithii (Western Wheat Grass, formerly known as Agropyron smithii), which have glumes and lemmas that are more difficult to separate from each other. This latter species has more narrow leaf blades than Quack Grass, as described above. Another species, Elymus pauciflorus subsecundus (Bearded Wheat Grass, formerly known as Agropyron subsecundum), resembles the awned form of Quack Grass somewhat. However, the lemmas of Bearded Wheat Grass have awns that are longer than 1/3" in length, while the lemmas of Quack Grass have shorter awns than this.

This introduced grass is about 2-3' tall and unbranched, although it may tiller at the base and send up multiple culms. The culms are green, terete, and hairless. Along each culm are 3-6 alternate leaves. Each leaf blade is up to 8" long and 1/3" (10 mm.) across, or a little larger in size; it is dull green or greyish blue, ascending at the base near the culm, and curving outward or downward toward its tip. The upper surface of the leaf blade is hairless to sparsely short-pubescent and rough, while the lower surface is hairless and more smooth-textured. At the base of each leaf blade, there is a pair of slender auricles (ear-like lobes) that wrap around the culm. Each leaf sheath is dull green or greyish blue, and either hairless or pubescent. The culm terminates in a spike-like raceme up to 8" long that is stiff and erect. Along this raceme are spikelets up to 2/3" (20 mm.) long that alternate along each side of its central axis on short peduncles. These spikelets are appressed to slightly spreading and dull green to greyish blue; with maturity, they become light brown or straw-colored. Each spikelet consists of a pair of glumes at the bottom and 3-7 florets with their pairs of lemmas above. In each spikelet, the pairs of lemmas are densely crowded together. Each glume is about 1/3" (10 mm.) long and linear-lanceolate in shape; there are several fine longitudinal veins along its outer surface. The tip of each glume is acute or short-awned. Each lemma is about 1/3" long and linear to linear-lanceolate in shape. The typical form of Quack Grass has awnless lemmas (or with short insignificant ones), while f. aristata has lemmas with awns up to 1/3" (10 mm.) long. The short blooming period occurs during the summer; the florets are wind-pollinated. Upon maturity, each spikelet easily detaches from its base and falls in its entirety to the ground; the individual glumes and lemmas do not separate as readily from each other. The individual grains are pale yellow to light tan, oblongoid, and somewhat flattened. The root system is fibrous and produces long rhizomes. Vegetative colonies are often formed.

Canada

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

Quackgrass is widely distributed across North America: from coast to
coast, south to the southwestern border states and north to Alaska [44].
It is also widespread throughout eastern Canada [18]. Because
quackgrass does not tolerate long, hot summers it is absent from the
Gulf Coast States (except northern Texas) [36].

AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE HI ID IL
IN IA KS KY ME MD MA MI MN MO
MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH
OK OR PA RI SD TN TX UT VT VA
WA WV WI WY NF NS ON PQ

Native to northwest and central Europe, Mediterranean region, eastwards through temperate Asia to Japan, introduced into many other parts of the world, and often a serious weed (Couch).

Triticum repens var. nanum Hook.:
Canada (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Triticum repens var. minus Hook.:
Canada (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Triticum repens var. vulgare Döll:
Germany (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Elymus neogaeus Steud.:
Canada (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Elymus vaillantianus (Wulfen & Schreb.) K. B. Jensen:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Elytrigia repens subsp. elongatiformis (Drobow) Tzvelev:
Mongolia (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
China (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex B.D. Jacks.:
Australia (Oceania)
India (Asia)
Japan (Asia)
Mongolia (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
South Korea (Asia)
China (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Triticum subulatum Banks & Sol.:
Syria (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Triticum ramosum Trin.:
Russian Federation (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens fo. repens :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. repens :
Canada (North America)
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Elymus repens (L.) Gould:
Argentina (South America)
Brazil (South America)
Canada (North America)
Chile (South America)
Greenland (North America)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Russian Federation (Asia)
United States (North America)
Japan (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. multiflorum Merr. ex Breb.:
France (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. leersianum Roem. & Schult.:
Germany (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. subulatum Podp.:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. arvense Schreb. ex Ducommun:
Switzerland (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. aristatum Coss. & Germ.:
France (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens var. aristatum Schltr.:
Germany (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv.:
Chile (South America)
United States (North America)
Argentina (South America)
South Africa (Africa & Madagascar)
Canada (North America)
Mongolia (Asia)
Iran (Asia)
India (Asia)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Brazil (South America)
Afghanistan (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron nicaeense Goiran:
Italy (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Agropyron elongatiforme Drobow:
Uzbekistan (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Shandong, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia; C and SW Asia, Europe; introduced in North America].

Global Range: Elymus repens is native to Eurasia (temperate Europe and Central Asia: Afghanistan, India, Pakistan).

(As an exotic, it can be found in parts of South America (Argentina and Chile) and in Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia (Batcher, 2002). This species is found in every state in the U.S. and in Canada from Newfoundland to British Columbia and North to the Yukon (Werner and Rioux, 1977). Quackgrass has been listed among the most frequently listed in a recently compiled database of noxious weeds in the United States and Canada (Skinner et al., 2000).)

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Europe and temperate Asia; introduced into many temperate countries.

More info for the terms: cool-season, graminoid

Quackgrass is a cool-season, exotic, perennial, rhizomatous graminoid.
Its stems are erect, decumbent, and may reach heights of 1 to 3 feet
(0.3-1 m) but more commonly grow to 0.25 to 1 inch (0.5-2 cm) high
[18,21]. Quackgrass is green to whitish, with hirsute to nonhirsute
leaves and awned or nonawned lemmas [18,26]. Rhizomes can grow 23
inches (60 cm) or more from the main shoot before sending out stems [36]
and grow as deep as 8 inches (20 cm) [26]. Dahlberg [12] described how
to identify seeds of the Agropyron genus to distinguish between
desirable and undesirable species.

Plants with long rhizomes. Culms not tufted, green, glaucous, or purplish green, 40–80 cm tall, 3–5-noded, smooth. Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous but pilose at base; ligule ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade flat, 10–20 × 0.5–1 cm, abaxial surface smooth, adaxial surface scabrous or pilose. Spike erect, 10–18 × 0.8–1.5 cm; rachis smooth but margin hispidulous; internodes 10–15 (–30) mm. Spikelets 10–18 × 6–10 mm, with 5–7(–10) florets, glabrous. Glumes subequal, 4–15 mm, 5–7-veined, smooth, glabrous, margin membranous, apex with point 1–2 mm or awn 4–8 mm. Lemma oblong-lanceolate, 6–12 mm, apex acuminate or with awn to 2 mm or 4–8 mm. Palea slightly shorter than lemma, ciliolate along keels. Anthers yellow, ca. 5 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome elongate, creeping, stems distant, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems mat or turf forming, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem inte rnodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly closed, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath hairy, hispid or prickly, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blade auriculate, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blade margins folded, involute, or conduplicate, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades more or less hairy, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence a dense slender spike-like panicle or raceme, branches contracted, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence single raceme, fascicle or spike, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets sessile or subsessile, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet 3-10 mm wide, Spikelets wit h 3-7 florets, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating below the glumes, Spikelets disarticulating beneath or between the florets, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes distinctly unequal, Glumes shorter than adjacent lemma, Glumes 3 nerved, Glumes 4-7 nerved, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma 5-7 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma mucronate, very shortly beaked or awned, less than 1-2 mm, Lemma distinctly awned, more than 2-3 mm, Lemma with 1 awn, Lemma awn less than 1 cm long, Lemma awned from tip, Lemma awn from sinus of bifid apex, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea about equal to lemma, Palea longer than lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear, Caryopsis hairy at apex.

Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizomes present, Rhizome elongate, creeping, stems distant, Stems trailing, spreading or prostrate, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems mat or turf forming, Stems solitary, Stems caespitose, tufted, or clustered, Stems terete, round in cross section, or polygonal, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems with inflorescence 1-2 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly basal, below middle of stem, Leaves mostly cauline, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath hairy, hispid or prickly, Leaf sheath hairy at summit, throat, or collar, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blade auriculate, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades 1-2 cm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blade margin s folded, involute, or conduplicate, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades more or less hairy, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence simple spikes, Inflorescence a dense slender spike-like panicle or raceme, branches contracted, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence single raceme, fascicle or spike, Inflorescence spikelets arranged in a terminal bilateral spike, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets sessile or subsessile, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 2 florets, Spikelets with 3-7 florets, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Spikelets disarticulating beneath or between the florets, Rachilla or pedicel hairy, Rachilla or pedicel glabrous, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes equal or subequal, Glumes shorter than adjacent lemma, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glumes awned, awn 1-5 mm or longer, Glumes 3 nerved, Glumes 4-7 nerved, Lemmas thin, chartaceous, hyaline, cartilaginous, or membranous, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma 5-7 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma body or surface hairy, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma mucronate, very shortly beaked or awned, less than 1-2 mm, Lemma distinctly awned, more than 2-3 mm, Lemma with 1 awn, Lemma awn less than 1 cm long, Lemma awned from tip, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea about equal to lemma, Palea longer than lemma, Palea keels winged, scabrous, or ciliate, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear, Caryopsis hairy at apex.

Tufted perennial with extensive, wiry rhizomes; culms 30-120 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades usually flat, 6-30 cm long, 3-10 mm wide, glabrous or loosely hairy above. Spike lax or dense, 5-15(-20) cm long, erect and straight; rhachis joints scabrid along the margins. Spikelets 5-7-flowered, 8-17 mm long; glumes subequal, lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 5-15 mm long, acute, mucronate or shortly awned, scabrid on the nerves above; lemma lanceolate-oblong, 6-11(-13) mm long, glabrous and smooth, acute, awnless or with a subulate tip, palea nearly as long as the lemma, anthers 3.5-6 mm long.

More info for the term: fern

Quackgrass invades gardens, yards, crop fields, roadsides, ditches, and
just about any disturbed, moist area [21]. It invades mixed-grass
prairies as well as oak (Quercus spp.)-hickory (Carya spp.) and
whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) forests [1,24,49]. It can tolerate
some saline conditions in the low-lying valleys of Utah [26].
Salt-tolerant cultivars have been developed by crossing quackgrass with
bluebunch wheatgrass [42]. Elevational range in four western states
follows [14]:

State Elevation

Utah 5,100-8,200 feet (1,554-2,499 m)
Colorado 4,800-10,000 feet (1,463-3,048 m)
Wyoming 4,500-8,000 feet (1,372-2,438 m)
Montana 5,000-6,600 feet (1,524-2,012 m)

Some associate species of quackgrass include sedge (Carex spp.), bulrush
(Scirpus spp.), rush (Juncus spp.), bluebunch wheatgrass, crested
wheatgrass, red top (Agrostis alba), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans),
bluestems (Andropogon spp., Schizachyrium spp.), smooth brome (Bromus
inermis), poverty oatgrass (Danthonia spicata), panic grass (Panicum
spp.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), common ragweed (Ambrosia
artemisiifolia), prairie pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), prairie
dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense),
Carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum), and bracken fern (Pteridium
aquilinum) [1,5,11,15,24,26,28].

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

K055 Sagebrush steppe
K056 Wheatgrass - needlegrass shrubsteppe
K063 Foothills prairie
K064 Grama - needlegrass - wheatgrass
K065 Grama - buffalograss
K066 Wheatgrass - needlegrass
K067 Wheatgrass - bluestem - beedlegrass
K068 Wheatgrass - grama - buffalograss
K069 Bluestem - grama prairie
K074 Bluestem prairie
K100 Oak - hickory forest

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

FRES10 White - red - jack pine
FRES14 Oak - pine
FRES15 Oak - hickory
FRES18 Maple - beech - birch
FRES19 Aspen - birch
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
FRES37 Mountain meadows
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES41 Wet grasslands
FRES42 Annual grasslands

Not yet recorded in Egypt.

Valleys, grasslands, pastures, meadows, field margins, waste places; 500–1900 m.

Comments: Weed in disturbed areas cultivated fields; <1800 m.

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Arthrinium dematiaceous anamorph of Apiospora montagnei is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
colony of Arthrinium dematiaceous anamorph of Arthrinium phaeospermum is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: esp. 7-8

Foodplant / spot causer
pycnidium of Actinothyrium coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta leptospora causes spots on leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
becoming erumpent pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta psammae causes spots on live leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 2-9

Foodplant / spot causer
pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta rhodesii causes spots on leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Belonopsis graminea is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Bisporella scolochloae is saprobic on dead, on ground stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 7-8
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / parasite
cleistothecium of Blumeria graminis parasitises live sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 7-10

Foodplant / pathogen
Cladochytrium caespitis infects and damages rotten root of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
extensive, velvety colony of Cladosporium dematiaceous anamorph of Cladosporium cladosporioides is saprobic on dead, rain-soaked stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / pathogen
sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea infects and damages inflorescence of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 9-11

Foodplant / saprobe
long-stalked apothecium of Crocicreas furvum is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 8

Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Hymenoscyphus robustior is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 6-7
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed pseudothecium of Keissleriella culmifida is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 5-10

Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Lachnum carneolum var. longisporum is saprobic on dead leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: (2-)6-8(-10)

Foodplant / saprobe
stalked apothecium of Lachnum palearum var. palearum is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 3-8

Foodplant / saprobe
scattered, subiculate, immersed becoming superficial perithecium of Lasiosphaeria dactylina is saprobic on culm of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 4-8

Foodplant / saprobe
mostly immersed, becoming partly erumpent to free pseudothecium of Lophiostoma semiliberum is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 12-4

Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Lophodermium arundinaceum is saprobic on dead leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 3-8

Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Lophodermium culmigenum is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 3-8
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Lophodermium gramineum is saprobic on dead leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Tetraploa dematiaceous anamorph of Massarina tetraploa is saprobic on Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 1-12
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / saprobe
pseudothecium of Massariosphaeria rubelloides is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 4-8

Foodplant / sap sucker
Metapolophium dirhodum sucks sap of live Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / pathogen
Fusarium anamorph of Monographella nivalis infects and damages leaf sheath (usually close to stem base) of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
extensive, velvety colony of Cladosporium dematiaceous anamorph of Mycosphaerella tulasnei is saprobic on dead, rain-soaked leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 1-12

Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Periconia dematiaceous anamorph of Periconia minutissima is saprobic on dead leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 1-12

Foodplant / saprobe
scattered, initially immersed pycnidium of Septoria anamorph of Phaeosphaeria nodorum is saprobic on dead stem (esp node) of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: spring, summer

Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, usually in short rows perithecium of Phaeosphaeria pontiformis is saprobic on stem (basal internode) of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 1-4

Foodplant / saprobe
pycnidium of Hendersonia coelomycetous anamorph of Phaeosphaeria vagans is saprobic on dead stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / saprobe
superficial conidioma of Dinemasporium coelomycetous anamorph of Phomatospora dinemasporium is saprobic on dead sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 1-12

Foodplant / spot causer
embedded stroma of Phyllachora graminis causes spots on live leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
immersed, crowded or in rows pycnidium of Pseudoseptoria coelomycetous anamorph of Pseudoseptoria donacis causes spots on sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 5-7

Foodplant / parasite
amphigenous, scattered or in patches uredium of Puccinia coronata parasitises live leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: summer

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Puccinia graminis f.sp. secalis parasitises live sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous, subepidermal telium of Puccinia recondita parasitises live leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
linear, mainly epiphyllous uredium of Puccinia striiformis var. striiformis causes spots on live leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / pathogen
colony of Drechslera dematiaceous anamorph of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis infects and damages live, yellowing leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
immersed, thin, subcuticular stromatic plates of Rhynchosporium coelomycetous anamorph of Rhynchosporium secalis causes spots on live sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 4-9

Foodplant / spot causer
scattered, immersed, punctiform, blackish pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria affinis causes spots on leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens
Remarks: season: 9

Foodplant / pathogen
immersed stroma of Pseudocercosporella dematiaceous anamorph of Tapesia yallundae infects and damages live stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / internal feeder
single larva of Tetramesa cornuta feeds within flower stem (just above node) of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / gall
single, yellowish larva of Tetramesa hyalipennis causes gall of flower stem of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / gall
larva of Tetramesa linearis causes gall of leaf sheath of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
long, linear, erumpent sorus of Urocystis agropyri causes spots on live, blistered, split into ribbons leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
long, linear, erumpent sorus of Ustilago hypodytes causes spots on live, blistered leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

Foodplant / spot causer
long, linear, erumpent sorus of Ustilago serpens causes spots on live, blistered leaf of Elytrigia repens ssp. repens

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Blumeria graminis parasitises live Elytrigia repens

Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Calameuta filiformis feeds within stem of Elytrigia repens

Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Cerodontha denticornis may be found in leaf sheath of Elytrigia repens
Other: major host/prey

Plant / resting place / on
puparium of Cerodontha flavocingulata may be found on leaf of Elytrigia repens
Other: major host/prey

Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Cerodontha lateralis may be found in leaf-mine of Elytrigia repens
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / miner
larva of Cerodontha superciliosa mines leaf of Elytrigia repens

Foodplant / sap sucker
Macrosiphum avenae sucks sap of live Elytrigia repens

Foodplant / pathogen
Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides var. acuformis infects and damages Elytrigia repens

Foodplant / parasite
long, linear, erumpent sorus of Ustilago hypodytes parasitises live culm (esp surrounding internodes) of Elytrigia repens
Other: major host/prey

Foodplant / spot causer
long, linear, erumpent sorus of Ustilago serpens causes spots on live, blistered leaf of Elytrigia repens

Elymus repens is prey of:
Tetramesa linearis
Tetramesa hyalipennis
Tetramesa comuta

Based on studies in:
Great Britain (Grassland)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

More info for the term: cool-season

Cool-season grasses such quackgrass are best eliminated with early
spring burns [20,31,34]. Cool-season grasses can grow in the fall
following summer dormancy; therefore, fall burns might also help reduce
undesirable cool-season grasses [41].

More info for the terms: cover, density

Five annual late April to early May burns in Minnesota resulted in a
decrease in quackgrass height but an increase in cover [5]. Plant vigor
was reduced and flowering stopped, but quackgrass continued to spread
into adjacent areas. At the time of the April burns, plant height was
between 3.9 and 5.9 inches (10-15 cm), and during the May burn, heights
were between 5.9 and 9.8 inches (15-25 cm). May and June burns on North
Dakota grasslands "harmed" quackgrass in the first postburn season, but
quackgrass recovered to almost preburn levels by the second postburn
season. Following the late June fire, quackgrass showed a slight
increase in cover, height, shoot density, production, and flowering
[39]. Wisconsin grassland fires in March caused an increase in seed
production by July and August [23].

The Research Project Summary, Herbaceous responses to seasonal burning in
experimental tallgrass prairie plots provides information on postfire response
of quackgrass in experimental prairie plots that was not available when this
species review was originally written.

More info for the term: cover

Quackgrass cover can increase following fire.

More info for the term: cover

Late spring fires generally reduce quackgrass cover, flowering and
biomass, while early spring fires can increase these.

More info for the term: rhizome

Rhizomatous herb, rhizome in soil

Quackgrass is adapted to certain seasonal fires because of its rhizomes.

More info for the term: rhizome

Quackgrass propagates mainly by rhizomes but also reproduces by seed.
Seed production, however, is reported to be as low as 25 viable seeds
per plant per season [36]. Studies in Alaska showed that seed viability
may vary depending on how deep and long the seeds have been buried;
viablity is reduced significantly after burial for 21 months [10]. In
greenhouse trials, dormancy of seeds buried 6 inches (15 cm) deep was 16
percent, while dormancy of seeds buried 0.8 inch (2 cm) deep was only 5
percent [9]. Cross-pollination is necessary for seed production [44].
Dormancy in rhizome buds has been related to nitrogen deficiencies,
which peak in June [8]. Sod mats can be as dense as 367 meters of
rhizomes per square meter [36].

More info on this topic.

More info for the terms: chamaephyte, geophyte

Chamaephyte
Geophyte

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

A May burn in oak savannas of Wisconsin significantly reduced quackgrass
and halted flowering [13]. Similar results (reduction in biomass and
cover) have been shown for other areas [23,28]. Burning quackgrass on a
biennial schedule for several years has been effective in eradicating
this species [1,3].

More info on this topic.

Quackgrass is an early seral dominant in disturbed areas [15,22,27].

More info on this topic.

More info for the term: rhizome

Quackgrass flowers from June through August in Colorado, Wyoming, and
Montana; and from June through July in North Dakota [14].

Optimum temperatures for growth are between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit
(20 and 25 deg C), with no growth occurring above 95 degrees Fahrenheit
(35 deg C) or below 35 degrees Fahrenheit (2 deg C) [16,36]. Primary
rhizome growth begins in late May or early June and then again in
September and October [36]. Rhizome growth seems to be favored by low
temperatures [50 deg F(10 deg C)] and long days (18 hours) [36].

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July-August

Perennial.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 10
Specimens with Barcodes: 24
Species With Barcodes: 1

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 7
Specimens with Barcodes: 9
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: GNR - Not Yet Ranked

More info for the term: cover

Although quackgrass is considered an undesirable weed species it is
often crossed with other wheatgrasses (Agropryon spp.) to create hybrids
for grazing [2,6]. It can be controlled with chemicals such as
glyphosate, dichlobenil, and fauzifop [50]. Sometimes, however,
chemicals are not effective. In Wisconsin, 2,4-D applied to quackgrass
caused a slight increase in quackgrass cover and no effect on stem
density [23]. In Midwestern prairies, mowing and raking significantly
reduced quackgrass biomass and prevented flowering the following growing
season [13]. Mowing, burning, and chemical application combined may be
the best way to eradicate quackgrass [33].