Johnsongrass
June 12, 2015
Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Poaceae (Grass family)
Life cycle
Rhizomatous perennial.

Patch of Johnsongrass.
Leaves
Bright green leaves are hairless with a prominent, white midvein. Leaves are rolled in the bud and may be up to 24 inches long. Leaf sheaths are also hairless.
Ligule
Very prominent, jagged, membranous ligule.
Stems
Erect, stout, hairless stems may reach 10 feet in height. Round to sometimes flattened stems are purple-tinted at the base. Plants form dense patches by purplish, thick, scaly rhizomes.

Johnsongrass collar region.
Flowers and fruit
The seedhead is a purple, very large, open and spreading, pyramid-shaped panicle that consists of numerous whorled branches. Seeds are oval, shiny and reddish brown.

Johngrass seedhead.
Reproduction
Seeds and rhizomes.

Johnsongrass rhizome section.
Print a PDF of this page: Johnsongrass
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Pest Control
Published on December 3, 2019
-
Sampling Oral and Processing Fluids to Identify Disease in Pigs
Published on December 3, 2019
-
Don’t wait, be ready! New antibiotic rules for 2017
Published on March 29, 2016
-
Can combining mortality composting from two separate farms constitute a CAFO?
Published on April 23, 2013
-
Preparing your barn for winter - Pest management series part three
Published on October 1, 2018
-
Preparing your barn for winter - Pest management series part one
Published on October 1, 2018
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.