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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Cupgrasses |
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| COMMON NAME: | Cupgrasses |
| SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Eriochloa spp. (see below) |
| TYPE: | Annual Warm-season Weedy Grass |
| DESCRIPTION | |
| Germination: | May to June. |
| Reproduction: | By seeds July to October. |
| Stem: | Erect, many from base, often bending at nodes. |
| Leaves: | Leaves of Prairie pubescent compared to no hair on Southwestern. |
| Flowers/ Inflorescence: |
Seed head of both species panicle with upwardly appressed branches having spikelets in two rows on lower side of branches. |
| Fruit: | Seed units with glumes, lemma, and palea attached. |
FOUND: |
Prairie and Southwestern are the two major cupgrasses in Oklahoma. Seedlings of cupgrasses look similar to large crabgrass but have lighter green leaves. Both are competitive with spring planted alfalfa and both will invade thinning older stands. |
CONTROL: |
Good selective control is possible in alfalfa with POAST PLUS and SELECT, but plants must be treated when small seedlings (2 to 6 inches tall). |
| Prairie
Cupgrass Eriochloa contracta Hitchc. |
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| In Alfalfa |  Plant |
 Leaf |
 Plant |
 Seed Head |
| Additional Prairie Cupgrass Images | ||||
| Southwestern
Cupgrass Eriochloa gracilis (Fourn.) A.S.Hichc. |
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| In Alfalfa |  Plant |
 Leaf |
 Plant |
 Seed Head |
| Additional Southwestern Cupgrass Images | ||||
| Jim Stritzke Former Alfalfa Weed Control Specialist Department of Plant and Soil Sciences Oklahoma State University |
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