Hardgrass

Hardgrass, Common Hardgrass

Sclerochloa dura (L.) Beauv.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ flattened stem bases

▲ ▼ inflorescences

▲ inflorescence close-up

▲ ▼ ligule (above) and sheath and collar regions (below) on a leaf

Common Hardgrass:

Cool-season annual, bunch-grass with flattened growth habit (like goosegrass)
Grows 1-6" tall
Leaves are strongly folded, medium to dark green in color, with flattenened stem bases
Inflorescences is a dense, stiff, compact panicle that is sort of held upside down by inflorescence rachis
Tolerates compacted soils
Becoming more common in southwest Missouri