Lagurus ovatus L., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: hare's-tail, hare's-tail grass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Softly hairy, erect, tufted annuals, 6-80 cm, with velvety greyish green leaves and erect to nodding, soft, silky, rounded panicles. Leaf-sheath densely pubescent, rounded, firmly membranous, distinctly ribbed; uppermost sheath ± inflated. Ligule 1.4-2.6 mm, membranous, truncate, abaxially densely pubescent. Leaf-blade (2)-4-17 cm x (2)-4-9 mm, flat, soft, densely pubescent, linear-lanceolate, tapered to acuminate tip. Culm slender, erect or ascending, simple or branched near base, internodes minutely pubescent. Panicle 1.5-7.5 x 1.6-4.5 cm, pale silvery green to cream, sometimes purplish, dense, ovoid to cylindric or globose, with numerous, soft, projecting bristles; rachis and very short branches hidden among spikelets, sparsely hairy. Spikelets 7-10 mm, 1-flowered, laterally compressed, subsessile; disarticulation above glumes; rachilla prolonged, hairy. Glumes equaling spikelet, 1-nerved, membranous, narrow-lanceolate, tapering to a fine bristle, covered throughout with long, fine silky hairs. Lemma ≈ glumes, 5-nerved, membranous, rounded, 4-5.6 mm, elliptic, hairy below, much narrowed above and narrowly diverging into 2 apical, fine, straight, minutely scabrid bristles 2-6 mm; awn dorsal, arising from upper 1/3 of lemma, 13-22 mm, somewhat geniculate near base, often purplish. Palea ≈ lemma and much narrower, 2-nerved. Lodicules 2, hyaline. Stamens 3; anthers 1.4-2.7 mm. Ovary glabrous, styles short. Caryopsis 1.6-2.6 x (0.3)-0.5-0.7 mm; embryo small; hilum short; endosperm liquid"  (Edgar & Connor, 2000; p. 284).

Description from GrassBase.

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand, "usually near the coast in sandy ground or in shingle, often locally abundant"  (Edgar & Connor, 2000; p. 284).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Mediterranean (Edgar & Connor, 2000; p. 284).  Macaronesia, northern Africa, Europe and western Asia; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) "Grows on sandy soils, common on hind dunes and reserves." Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 192)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 284)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Lagurus ovatus, please let us know.