Crop Identification - Alfalfa Deep taproot and well-

developed crown Much branched stems up to 3

feet tall 3 leaflets in a pinnately

compound leaf, pubescent, with serrations on outer l/3 of leaflet

Flowers yellow or purple, raceme inflorescence.

Seed is borne one to several in a spiral pod

Kidney to mitt shaped Yellow to green to light brown,

turning dull reddish-brown with age.

Crop Identification – Red Clover Short-lived perennial acting as a

biennial Taproot system erect, branching

habit from a crown Stems pubescent; leaves palmately

compound, pubescent, with white variegation

Stipules prominent, with distinct green to reddish veining

Reddish flowers in head-type inflorescences at end of branches.

Seed is lemon-yellow to violet, with prominent nose nearly half as long as seed, giving appearance of boxing glove; a sample of seed will have a purplish cast.

Crop Identification – White Clover Stolon root system

Stems prostrate rooting at the nodes

Palmately compound leaf supported by erect petiole

Variegations on leaflets

White dense flower head on erect peduncle.

Seed is small, canary yellow to brown colored, and heart-shaped.

Crop Identification – Hairy Vetch Winter annual

Stems weak, pubescent, twining

Leaves pubescent, pinnate with 12-20 leaflets, terminating in a tendril

Flowers lavender, several to a raceme

Dehiscent seed pod, with 3 to 8 spherical, dull black (l/8 inch in diameter) seeds.

Crop Identification – Tall Fescue Cool season perennial

bunchgrass Stem erect, 2 to 3 feet tall Leaf with glabrous sheath,

blade flat, with rough upper surface and margin

Inflorescence an open panicle, with few to many florets per spikelet.

Seed is l/4 to 3/8 inch long, retains lemma and palea in threshing

Rachilla slender and found with cupped knob.

Crop Identification - Ryegrass Cool season bunchgrass Stem erect, 2 to 3 feet tall Leaf glossy on upper surface,

blade flat, and narrow, small auricles, glabrous sheath

Short membranous ligule Inflorescence is a slender spike

with spikelets attached edgeways to rachis.

Seed is somewhat flattened, about l/4 inch long, does not thresh free

Lemma awned, rachilla wedge-shaped, lies close to lemma.

Crop Identification - Kentucky Bluegrass

Perennial cool season grass Spreads by rhizomes Stems erect Leaf blade smooth, flat, or

folded, ends in a boat-shaped tip

Panicle type inflorescence 4-5 branches at lower node, spikelets crowded at ends of branches.

Seed is less than l/8 inch long, does not thresh free, persistent rachilla.

Crop Identification – Smooth Bromegrass

Perennial, cool season grass

Spreads by rhizomes

leaves smooth, with closed sheaths

Inflorescence is an open, erect panicle with elongated spikelets, no awns.

Seed is about 3/8 inch long, flattened, dark brown caryopsis shows through lemma and thin palea.

Crop Identification - Orchardgrass Perennial cool-season bunch

grass

Flattened leaf sheaths long membranous ligule

panicle-type inflorescence, with spikelets clumped at ends of few stiff branches; spikelets 2 to 5 flowered.

Seed does not thresh free; awn-pointed

Rachilla present

Lemma appears as if tip has been twisted quarter turn.

Crop Identification - Sudangrass Annual grass 6 to 8 feet

tall

Thin corn-like appearance

Inflorescence medium to large open panicle type.

Seed is brown, usually enclosed in golden-tan to purplish colored glumes; pedicels are not knobbed.

Crop Identification - Wheat Annual grass

Auricles wrap sheath

Stems 2-3 feet tall

Spike-type inflorescence; awned or awnless often 3 or more fertile florets per spikelet.

Seed hotdog bun shaped threshes free of lemma and palea.

Barley has very long and prominent auricles that clasp around the stem. The ligule is relatively short and inconspicuous. Waxy-coated leaves.

Wheat has short, slender, hairy auricles. The ligule is rounded.

Rye has very short, sharp pointed auricles with a hairy sheath and a small inconspicous ligule.

Oat auricles are absent and both the shealth and leaf margins have hairs. The ligule is relatively large and flat topped.

Crop Identification - Rye Winter annual

Stems 3-4 feet tall

Spike-type inflorescence long, slender, often drooping

Short awns; kernels partly exposed from glumes.

Seed size varies from small and slender to large and plump; color from light brown to greenish to dark brown.

Crop Identification - Barley Annual grass

Spike-type inflorescence; usually awned; 3 spikes per rachis node.

Six-row barlet all spikelets fertile, 2/3 of kernels have curved suture, l/3 straight

Seed - lemma and palea attached, awn broken in threshing:

Crop Identification - Oats Annual grass

Stems 3 feet tall

Leaves twisted counter clock wise

Open panicle-type inflorescence spikelets with large, papery glumes

Seed - plump; yellow, gray, or red, depending on variety

Lemma and palea do not thresh free

Awns, if present, attached to back of lemma.

Crop Identification Grain Sorghum Annual drought tolerant

grass

Corn-like appearance

Prominent midvein

Inflorescence is a panicle-like raceme; semi-compact; dark glumes.

Seed is round 3/32 inch in diameter, usually a rust-red or reddish brown in color.

Crop Identification – Pearl Millet Annual grass with

bunched habit Some to many tillers Leaf blades are long with

rough edges and a distinctive midrib

Ligule is large and hair-like. Inflorescence is a cat tail-like spike

Seed is small round and tan in coloration.

Seed threshes free of its rachilla on harvest.

Weed Identification – Canada Thistle

Perennial creeping roots extend several feet deep and several feet horizontally

Stems 2 to 5 feet tall, becoming increasingly hairy as they mature

Leaves dark green on upper side, grayish underside, usually with crinkled edges and spiny, somewhat lobed margins

Inflorescence 3/4 inch or less in diameter, composed of several lavender flowers and surrounded by bracts without spiny tips.

Seed - light brown, slightly tapered, about 3/16 inch long, with a ridge around the blossom end, almost banana-shaped.

Weed Identification Field Bindweed

Extensive perennial root system Stems smooth, slender, 2 to 7

feet long, and vine like Leaves ovate with spreading

basal lobes Flowers are funnel-like white or

pink colored, about 1 inch across Flower stalk has 2 bracts l/2 to 2

inches below the flower. Seed is brownish-gray, rough,

about l/8 inch in diameter, with 1 rounded and 2 flattened sides

Weed Identification - Johnsongrass Perennial grass with creeping

rhizomes and fibrous root system

Stems erect, l l/2 to over 6 feet tall

Leaves alternate, simple, 6 to 20 inches long l/2 inches wide

Open panicle type inflorescence.

Seed is nearly 1/8 inch long, oval, yellow to reddish-brown, with fine lines on the surface

Two knobbed rachilla are on each floret.

Weed Identification – Hoary Cress Perennial, roots deep, slender,

extending horizontally and vertically as much as 10 feet

Stems 1 to 1 1/2 feet tall, branching at top

leaves on lower stem spatulate, tapering to a slender base, upper leaves sessile covered with whitish pubescence.

Leaf margins wavy with shallow indentation

Flowers white, 4 petaled, small; borne in flat-topped clusters

Seed pod 2-parted, heart shaped. Seed is oval, rough about 1/16 inch

long, reddish-brown.

Weed Identification – Perennial Sowthistle

Perennial, roots extend several feet horizontally and vertically produce shoots from buds

Stems smooth, 3 to 7 feet tall, erect Milky juice exudes when stem is

broken Leaves are 4 to 8 inches long,

alternate, irregularly toothed, lobed, with spiny edges

Inflorescence up to l l/2 inches across, composed of several deep yellow flowers.

Seed - brownish, slender, about 1/8 inch long, slightly flattened, 5 to 7 longitudinal ribs running the length of the seed, a tuft of hair on one end that is easily broken off.

Weed Identification - Quackgrass Perennial grass with a sharp

pointed white rhizome Stems ½ to 3 feet tall; with

smooth culms and 3 to 6 nodes; Leaves with auricles, short

ligule, hairy lower sheaths, upper sheaths nearly glabrous;

Spike is composed of several spikelets with 3 to 7 short-awned florets.

Seed does not thresh clean, florets usually thresh in small clusters rather than singly

Rachilla oppressed to palea.

Weed Identification - Wild Garlic Perennial bulb roots small, at

base of bulb Stems 1 to 3 feet tall, smooth,

waxy Leaves slender, hollow, nearly

round, attached to lower half of stem

Aerial bulblets form in a cluster at top of stem are oval and smooth with shiny covering

Flowers greenish-white, small, on short stems above aerial bulblets.

Seed - black, flat on one side, about 1/8 inch long; formed only occasionally.