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Bearded Couch Grass

Elymus caninus

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Contents

Plant Profile

Flowering Months:
JAN  FEB  MAR  APR  MAY  JUN  JUL  AUG  SEP  OCT  NOV  DEC
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae (Grass)
Also in this family:
Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog
Type:
Flower
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Maximum Size:
1 metre tall
Habitats:
Cliffs, hedgerows, meadows, mountains, riverbanks, riversides, roadsides, rocky places, wasteland, waterside, woodland.

Flower:
֍
Green, no petals
 
A slightly nodding flower spike. The unstalked, 2 to 5 flowered spikelets are solitary. Spikelets alternate along the flower stem. The awns are up to 1.5cm in length.
Fruit:
The fruit is a caryopsis. Bearded Couch fruits in about August.
Leaves:
Simple, alternate and linear leaves, up to 1.5cm wide. The leaves are sparsely long-haired above and hairless beneath.
Other Names:
Bearded Couch, Bearded Wheatgrass, Dog Hair Grass.
Frequency (UK):
Common  

Similar Species

Couch Grass
Couch Grass

False Brome Grass

Other Information

Summary

Elymus caninus, commonly known as dog hair grass, is a species of grass that is native to western North America, from Alaska and Canada to California. It is a perennial bunchgrass that typically grows to a height of 60–100 cm. The leaf blades are typically 20–40 cm (8–16 in) long and 1–2 mm wide. The inflorescence is a spike-like panicle that can be up to 20 cm long. It produces inconspicuous, greenish-brown flowers in the summer and it is wind-pollinated.

This species is commonly found in open, dry habitats such as rocky ridges, gravel pits, and dry meadows. It is also found in gravelly soils, such as those found along rivers and road cuts. It has a high tolerance to dry conditions and poor soil quality. The foliage of this species is very fine, which gives the appearance of "dog hair" and that's where it's name comes from. This species can provide valuable forage for wild animals and livestock. Also it can be used in landscaping, erosion control, and revegetation of disturbed areas, due to its hardiness and adaptability.

Blog

Bearded Couch Grass, also known by its scientific name Elymus caninus, is a perennial grass that belongs to the Poaceae family. This plant is commonly found in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia, where it is often considered to be a weed due to its ability to spread quickly and crowd out other plants in its vicinity. However, despite its weedy reputation, bearded couch grass has several interesting characteristics that make it a worthwhile species to study.

Appearance and Growth Habit

Bearded couch grass is a tall and robust plant, growing up to 1 meter in height. It has a deep root system that allows it to thrive in a variety of soil types, including sandy and loamy soils. The leaves of the plant are long and narrow, with a bluish-green color, and are covered in fine hairs, giving the plant its characteristic "bearded" appearance. The plant produces spikelets, which contain small seeds that are dispersed by the wind.

Ecological Importance

Despite being considered a weed in many areas, bearded couch grass has several ecological benefits. Its deep root system helps to prevent soil erosion, and the plant is often used in reclamation projects to stabilize soil in areas that have been disturbed by human activities, such as mining or construction. Additionally, the plant provides food and habitat for a variety of wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals.

Uses in Agriculture

Bearded couch grass has been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, and it is also used in some cultures as a food source. In addition, the plant has potential uses in agriculture, as it is able to tolerate drought and poor soil conditions, making it a good candidate for cultivation in arid and marginal lands. Additionally, the plant's deep root system makes it effective at extracting nutrients from the soil, which could be useful in improving soil fertility.

Control Methods

Despite its potential benefits, bearded couch grass can be difficult to control, as its deep root system allows it to regrow even after it has been removed. The plant can spread rapidly, both through its seeds and through its rhizomes, which can grow up to 1 meter in length. To control bearded couch grass, it is important to remove the entire plant, including its roots, and to prevent the plant from re-establishing by removing any seedlings or new growth as soon as they appear.

While bearded couch grass may be considered a weed in many areas, it has several interesting characteristics that make it a worthwhile species to study. Its deep root system and ability to tolerate poor soil conditions make it a potential candidate for cultivation in arid and marginal lands, and its ecological benefits, such as preventing soil erosion and providing habitat for wildlife, make it an important component of many ecosystems.

More Information

One interesting characteristic of bearded couch grass is its ability to produce allelopathic compounds, which are chemicals that can inhibit the growth of other plants in its vicinity. This allows bearded couch grass to outcompete other plant species and dominate the area in which it grows. However, the allelopathic properties of bearded couch grass also make it a potential candidate for use in weed management, as the plant's extracts have been shown to have herbicidal properties against other plant species.

Bearded couch grass has also been found to be resistant to certain herbicides, which can make it difficult to control in agricultural settings. This resistance is thought to be due to the plant's ability to metabolize and break down herbicides, as well as its ability to pump the herbicides out of its cells. As herbicide resistance becomes an increasing concern in agriculture, understanding the mechanisms of resistance in bearded couch grass could be useful in developing new weed management strategies.

In addition to its potential uses in agriculture, bearded couch grass has also been used in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments, including urinary tract infections and skin irritations. The plant contains several bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and alkaloids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.

Overall, while bearded couch grass may be considered a weed in many areas, it has several interesting characteristics that make it a valuable species to study. Its potential uses in agriculture, medicine, and weed management make it a plant worth further investigation, and its ecological benefits make it an important component of many ecosystems.

Facts about Bearded Couch Grass

  1. Bearded Couch Grass is a perennial grass that belongs to the Poaceae family.
  2. It is commonly found in temperate regions of Europe and Asia.
  3. The plant can grow up to 1 meter in height and has long, narrow leaves with a bluish-green color.
  4. The leaves are covered in fine hairs, giving the plant its characteristic "bearded" appearance.
  5. The plant produces spikelets that contain small seeds which are dispersed by the wind.
  6. The plant has a deep root system that allows it to thrive in a variety of soil types, including sandy and loamy soils.
  7. Bearded Couch Grass has potential uses in agriculture, traditional medicine, and weed management.
  8. The plant is able to tolerate drought and poor soil conditions, making it a good candidate for cultivation in arid and marginal lands.
  9. Bearded Couch Grass produces allelopathic compounds, which can inhibit the growth of other plant species in its vicinity.
  10. The plant has been found to be resistant to certain herbicides.

Summary:

Bearded Couch Grass is a tall and robust perennial grass that can be found in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It has long, narrow leaves with a bluish-green color and is covered in fine hairs. The plant produces spikelets containing small seeds that are dispersed by the wind. It has a deep root system that allows it to thrive in a variety of soil types, making it a potential candidate for cultivation in arid and marginal lands. Bearded Couch Grass produces allelopathic compounds and is resistant to certain herbicides. The plant has potential uses in agriculture, traditional medicine, and weed management.

Distribution Map

Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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