Importance
A competitive and invasive arable weed which has been reported more frequently in recent seasons.
Description
A tufted annual grass reaching heights of up to 70 cm.
Ligule
Short 0.1 – 1 mm, flat and ragged.
Auricles
None
Leaf blade
Fine, narrow glossy leaves, up to 15 cm in length and 0.5 – 3 mm wide. Emerging leaves are rolled in the bud.
Dense `rat`s-tail` panicles, one-sided with spikelets 7 – 10 mm long (without including awns), 3 – 6 flowered with long awns up to 15 mm in length.
Rat's tail fescue © Blackthorn arable.
Rat's tail fescue © Blackthron arable.