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SMOKE GRASS

NOMENCLATURE

Other Names:

Scientific Name: Muhlenbergia uniflora Muhl. Fern.

Plant Family: Graminae

GENERAL INFORMATION

Botanical Description: grass

 Stems: thin purplish stems sprout from rosette of basal leaves (similar to dandelion) in late spring, reach 6 - 18 inches high

 Leaves: fine, purplish leaves sprout from stems; basal leaves thicker but hidden by surrounding vegetation

 Roots: fibrous

 Flowers: very tiny, green, on long thin highly branched panicle stems that are a fourth to a half the length of the whole plant, bloom June - August

 Seeds: approximately 1/8 inch

 Seedling:

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Can be a pest in a variety of agricultural crops.

LIFE CYCLE

Reproduction: perennial

 Propagation: seed, fibrous roots

 Dispersal: Flood waters carry seed; fibrous roots contaminate vine cuttings.

DISTRIBUTION

State: Found in moist soils.

 National: Found northward to Canada east of the Mississippi, southward as far as New Jersey.

 Origin:

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Prefers wet or moist sandy or peat soils, open meadows and bogs. Common invader of new plantings and bare patches in established beds.

SCOUTING PROCEDURE/ET

While scouting a cranberry bed for disease and insect pests, identify weed populations as they arise. Note the specie(s) of weed present as well as the population level relative to field area. Example: 5% smoke grass, 20% boneset and joe-pye weed mix.

REFERENCES

Gleason, H. A. 1952. Illustrated Flora of the United States and Adjacent Canada. Vol . 1. Lancaster Press, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. p. 172.

Kummer, L. D., T. G. Dittl, and T. D. Planer. 1993. Wisconsin Cranberry Weeds. Wisconsin Cranberry Board, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. p. 27.

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