matgrass USDA PLANTS Symbol: NAST3
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Grass or Grasslike
Nardus stricta L.
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae
Appearance
Nardus stricta is a slow growing perennial bunchgrass that is densely tufted, and long-lived.
Foliage
Leaves are hard and bristle-like, bluish green and up to 0.25 in. (0.6 cm) wide, appearing narrower because blades are tightly folded along the midrib.
Flowers
It produces unbranched flower-spikes that carry the single-flowered spikelets along one side only. Matgrass flowers from June until August.
Fruit
Tiny spikelets can produce 1000 seeds during each blooming.
Ecological Threat
Nardus stricta is a non-native grass with the potential to out-compete desirable grasses in intensively grazed areas. Because it is not favored by grazing animals, matgrass has a competitive edge. It reproduces mostly through transport of tufts in mud clinging to the hooves of grazing animals. It is difficult to eliminate because of the difficulty locating it in mixed grass stands. Untreated plants develop seeds and perpetuate infestations for decades.  It occurs in damp areas near swamps, estuaries and watercourses. It is native to eastern Europe.
Selected Images from Invasive.orgView All Images at Invasive.org


Plant(s); Commonly grows in dry coniferous forests on sandy soils. Poland.
Gil Wojciech, Polish Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s);
Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s);
Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s);
Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org
Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org 		 


State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

Invasive Listing Sources:
California Invasive Plant Council
Pacific Northwest Exotic Pest Plant Council, 1998