Ventenata Grass

 North Africa grass and wiregrass 

A slender erect annual, 6 to 27 inches tall. Leaves rolled lengthways or folded, narrow, 3/4 to 2 3/8 inches long, sheaths open, ligules membranous, cut into narrow segments. Inflorescence a more or less lax, open, pyramidal panicle, to 8 inches long, tawny to light yellow, with a distinct sheen. Spikelets are 7/16 to 5/8 inch long, near the ends of long branches; lowest floret is sharp-pointed to short-awned, the awns to 3/16 inch long, straight. The awns on the upper florets are 3/8 to 1 inch long, bent and twisted 

Inflorescence is an open panicle with slender, spreading branches, typically at 90 degree angles to the raceme, bearing spikelets at their tips. Awns are up to 1-inch long.

Ventenata dubia grows in a variety of dry, open and often disturbed habitats, tending to prefer sites that are inundated in early spring but dried out by late spring. It is commonly found on south-facing hillsides with shallow, rocky clay or clay-loam soils though it can be found on other aspects and substrates. 

There are few herbicides available for controlling ventenata. Glyphosate may be effective if non-selective herbicide is desired. For more information on herbicides visit the Weed and Pest office. 

Livestock will avoid grazing ventenata even in the seedling stage. Ventenata contains a large amount of silica, which makes it hard to digest.