Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host)

Jointed goatgrass is a member of the Grass family , Barley tribe. It is a non-native grass introduced from Turkey in the late 1800s. It is a winter annual, reproducing by seed and grows 15 to 30 inches tall in erect stems which branch at the base to give the plant a tufted appearance.

The leaf blades are 1/8 to 1/4 inch wide (usually smooth) with small auricles at the base. The root system is shallow and fibrous. The most distinguishing characteristic is the 2 to 4 inch jointed, cylindrical, balanced seed head.

Seeds of jointed goatgrass are attached to their ranchis segment and shed in June and July, during the prior to wheat harvest. The seeds are very similar in size and shape to wheat seed and therefore are difficult to screen out. Jointed goatgrass is becoming an increasing problem in the wheat growing areas of eastern Colorado.