Scientific Name
Lamarckia aurea (L.) Moench
Common Name(s)
Goldentop grass
Tribe / Family Name
Poeae
Flowering Period
February to May
Symbol
LAAU
Description
Goldentop grass is an introduced, annual, bunchgrass. Culms range from (5)10-40 cm in height. Its inflorescences are dense, spike-like panicles or racemes 2-8 cm long and up to 3.2 cm wide. Spikelets are dimorphic and have fertile and sterile spikelets: the fertile spikelets have 2 florets and are awned (the bisexual florets are up to 3 mm long and have awns 5-7.2 mm long; the reduced florets are up to 0.6 mm long and have awns 4-5(7) mm long); the sterile spikelets have 5-10 florets and are unawned (the lemmas overlap each other and have obtuse, fringed tips). Ligules are 3-10 mm long and membranous. Blades are 2-9 cm long and up to 7 mm long and flat.
General Info
Goldentop grass can usually be found along roadsides and in disturbed areas.
Similar Species
Goldentop grass is a distinctive grass and not usually confused with other grasses.
Image of growth habit. Photo by Justin J. Trujillo.
Image of growth habit. Photo by Jessica Vinje.
Inflorescences are dense, unilateral spike-like panicles or racemes. Photo by Justin J. Trujillo.
Close-up image of inflorescence. Photo by Jessica Vinje.
Close-up of spikelets. Photo by Justin J. Trujillo.
Illustration of goldentop grass. Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1/1/1950.