stinkgrass

Stinkgrass – Eragrostis cilianensis

Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vign. ex Janchen

Poaceae (Grass family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Erect to spreading summer annual.

Leaves

Leaves are usually hairless and up to 6 inches long with a tuft of long, soft hair at
the collar region. Tiny, warty glands on the leaf margins and sheath release an unpleasant odor.

Ligule

Hairy.

Stems

Erect to spreading, up to 2-foot-tall, slender stems are branched at the base. Stems have a ring of tiny glands just below the nodes, which release an unpleasant odor.

Flowers and fruit

The seedhead is a dense to open, tan, gray-green to purple, pyramid-shaped panicle. Flattened and oblong, spikelets contain up to 40 reddish orange to brown, egg-shaped seeds.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Stinkgrass plant
Stinkgrass plant
New stinkgrass seedhead
New stinkgrass seedhead
New stinkgrass spikelet
New stinkgrass spikelet
Stinkgrass ligule
Stinkgrass ligule

Other Documents in this Series

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.