crested wheatgrass USDA PLANTS Symbol: AGCR
U.S. Nativity: Exotic
Habit: Grass or Grasslike
Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.
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Taxonomic Rank: Liliopsida: Cyperales: Poaceae
Appearance
Agropyron cristatum is a cool season perennial bunchgrass that grows from 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m) tall. It is native to Africa, temperate Asia, and parts of Europe. It was introduced to North and South America as a forage crop.
Foliage
The culms are erect with flat leaves which are about 0.08-0.24 in (2-6 mm) wide. The leaves are smooth below and slightly scabrous above.
Flowers
The spikelets are widely spreading with contoured glumes. They gradually taper into awns 0.08-0.2 in (2-5 mm) long.
Fruit
Seed heads are flattened vertically, with compact overlapping spikelets. Each seed has a short awn.
Ecological Threat
A. cristatum is cold and drought tolerant with a deep fibrous root system which allows it to compete successfully with both native plants and weeds. It has been planted as forage on 10-26 million acres in North America.
Selected Images from Invasive.orgView All Images at Invasive.org


Flower(s); close-up of inflorescence
Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org
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Plant(s); close-up of whole plant
Dave Powell, USDA Forest Service (retired), Bugwood.org
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Plant(s);
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Plant(s);
Steve Dewey, Utah State University, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s); Seedheads
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
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Fruit(s); Closer shot of a seedhead
John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org
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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: