ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Agropyron repens
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    CYPERALES
 FAMILY:   POACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Agropyron repens
 AUTHORITY:  (L.) Beauv.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    COUCH GRASS
    QUACK GRASS
    WITCH GRASS
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: AGRE2
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     SAVANNA
       BARREN
     CULTURAL
       AGRICULTURAL FIELD
         CROPLAND
         PASTURELAND
       SUCCESSIONAL FIELD
       DEVELOPED LAND
       PLANTATION
       RESTORATION
       MINED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   ADAMS           ALEXANDER       BOONE           BROWN           BUREAU
   CARROLL         CASS            CHAMPAIGN       CHRISTIAN       COLES
   COOK            CRAWFORD        CUMBERLAND      DEKALB          DEWITT
   DOUGLAS         DUPAGE          EDGAR           FAYETTE         FORD
   FULTON          GALLATIN        GREENE          GRUNDY          HANCOCK
   HENDERSON       HENRY           IROQUOIS        JACKSON         JEFFERSON
   JERSEY          JO DAVIESS      JOHNSON         KANE            KANKAKEE
   KENDALL         KNOX            LAKE            LASALLE         LAWRENCE
   LEE             LIVINGSTON      LOGAN           MCDONOUGH       MCHENRY
   MCLEAN          MACON           MACOUPIN        MADISON         MARSHALL
   MASON           MENARD          MERCER          MONTGOMERY      MORGAN
   MOULTRIE        OGLE            PEORIA          PIATT           PIKE
   PUTNAM          RICHLAND        ROCK ISLAND     ST. CLAIR       SANGAMON
   SCHUYLER        SCOTT           STARK           STEPHENSON      TAZEWELL
   VERMILION       WABASH          WARREN          WASHINGTON      WHITESIDE
   WILL            WINNEBAGO       WOODFORD
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMY COMMENTS:
     Mohlenbrock (ref. 8) gives 2 forms, F. repens with awnless
     lemmas and F. aristatum with awned lemmas.
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (rhizomes)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:   Alternate
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear
    INFLORESCENCE:   Raceme  Spike
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Grain
 
 DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC COMMENTS:
     Like Agropyron smithii, but has pubescent sheaths and flat
     broader leaf blades. F. aristatum with awns to 10 mm long versus
     A. smithii; leaves are deep green or blue-green, felxible, soft,
     flat leaves.
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Europe   Asia
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is common in northern 3/4, rare in southern 1/4 of state.
     (for F. repens). F. aristatum - is rare, only found in Cook co.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Common
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 POPULATION STATUS COMMENTS:
     F. repens is the more common in Illinois.
 
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Grasslike
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      6         MONTH END-      7
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     C02 FIXATION:  C3
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is an abundant and notorious weed of gardens, and
     waste ground; along railways and roads.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:
     NITROGEN FIXING   No
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     ALLERGENIC:  Yes
     EDIBLE:  Yes
 
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Creeping underground rootstock can be ground into a flour.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:
     FOOD VALUE:  No data entered
     COVER VALUE:  No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK PALATABILITY DATA:
     CATTLE FORAGE: No data    SHEEP FORAGE:  No data    HORSE FORAGE:  No data
     GOAT FORAGE:   No data    ENERGY VALUE:  Medium     PROTEIN VALUE: Low
     POISONOUS (LIVESTOCK):   No
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Species may be used for hay and pasture.
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:
     WEEDINESS:   Noxious
 
 
 REVEGATATION COMMENTS:
     Root system produces a packed, heavy soil - may be used for
     stabilization of embankments and waterways.
 
 PROPAGATION COMMENTS:
         Creeping rhizomes make eradication difficult; is a common weed
         in northern Illinois.
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Swink, F., and G. S. Wilhelm.  1979.  Plants of the Chicago region.  Third ed.
     The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois.  922 pp.
Mohlenbrock, R. H.  1967-continuing.  The illustrated flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. A Manual of the Grasses of the United States.
          United States Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C.
          1051 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Agropyron repens
 
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 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015