Poaceae (Grass Family)

Wild Oats
Avena fatua
Non native

Most wild oats germinate and emerge in early to mid-spring. Cool, moist conditions promote maximum emergence, so crops that are seeded early are usually the most heavily infested. Fall or early spring applications of nitrogen fertilizer stimulate germination. Growth of roots and shoot of wild oats is slow for the first two weeks, but increases quickly from then on. Most wild oats tiller within a month of emergence.

Meadow barley
Hordeum brachyantherum
NATIVE

Herbaceous perennial is native to lower elevations in western California where it is a component of most grasslands.  Blades are about 11 cm long and 4 mm wide with long and short hairs on both sides.  Leaves are alternate.

Italian Ryegrass
Lolium multiflorum
NON NATIVE

Italian ryegrass is an annual grass that has been introduced from Europe and is cultivated as a meadow, pasture, or lawn grass.  Its flowers are borne on short spikelets that alternate on the stem.  The seed has a short, thin awn (hair).  It is a considered to be a facultative wetland indicator species because it occurs in wetlands as often as it occurs in uplands.

Rabbitfoot Grass
Polypogon monspeliensis
NON NATIVE

 Rabbitfoot is a low-growing annual grass that is native to Europe.  It has become naturalized in California and is commonly found growing on wet or moist soils.  The dense flowering head has long silky hairs and resembles a rabbit’s foot.