Family
Poaceae
Distribution in Canada
Found in BC
Duration of life cycle
Annual
Seed/Fruit type
- grain, enclosed by a palea and lemma
- floret may be found enclosed in sterile florets with awns (long bristles)
Seed identification features
Size
- floret length: 1.7–2.0 mm
- floret width: 0.5–0.7 mm
- enclosed floret length: 3.2 mm
- enclosed floret width: 1.0 mm
- awn length: 8.0 mm
Shape
- in outline: elongated oval
- in cross section: elliptical
Surface texture
- enclosing (sterile) floret surface is papery and slightly roughened like sandpaper
- short, stiff hairs surround base of enclosing floret, and run up floret in lines
- fertile floret has smooth, glossy surface
Colour
- medium reddish-brown, becoming pale at tip
Other structures
- long, bent awn extends straight from tip of 2 papery, sterile florets surrounding fertile, plump floret
Similar species
Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
- found in YT, BC, ON, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL
- similar to annual vernal grass in size, elliptical shape, reddish-brown colour, bent awn-tipped enclosing florets, and dense bristles
- Sweet and annual vernal grass florets are very similar, plants are easily distinguishable by their duration and vegetative features
- florets are slightly (~0.5 mm) larger than annual vernal grass florets
- outer (sterile) florets are densely covered by stiff hairs (annual vernal grass hairs are in vertical lines)
Photos
Similar species
