Aegilops geniculata
Ovate goat grass
(c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Cahen · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Aegilops geniculata (Ovate goat grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by urn-shaped spikelets vs cylindrical.
Ovate goat grass is a naturalized annual found in Mendocino County and other disturbed areas at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this grass produces small spikelets with distinctive 2 to 3.5 centimeter-long awns that give it a bristly appearance. Growing with slender stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall, it spreads readily in fields and along roadsides. Its leaf blades are narrow, measuring 2 to 7.5 centimeters long and 2 to 5 millimeters wide, with a characteristic urn-shaped spikelet structure. The plant's fertile spikelets typically contain 2 to 4 florets, with lower spikelets breaking apart as the grass matures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; key feature is urn-shaped spikelets vs cylindrical
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed fields, roadsides
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Mendocino
Outside California: native to Mediterranean Europe, western Asia
Bloom period
Aegilops geniculata blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Taeniatherum: Aegilops has 2-5 florets per spikelet; Taeniatherum has 2 florets with all parts awned.; vs Elymus: Aegilops has awned glumes but awnless lemmas; Elymus has awned lemmas.; vs Stenotaphrum: Aegilops is annual and tufted; Stenotaphrum is perennial with thick stolons.; vs Scribneria: Aegilops has awned glumes; Scribneria glumes are awnless.; vs Parapholis: Aegilops has prominent bristles on glumes; Parapholis completely lacks awns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aegilops geniculata native to California?
No. Aegilops geniculata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Aegilops geniculata bloom?
Aegilops geniculata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Aegilops geniculata grow?
Aegilops geniculata occurs in Mendocino, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Aegilops geniculata belong to?
Aegilops geniculata is in the Poaceae family, genus Aegilops.
What habitat does Aegilops geniculata grow in?
Aegilops geniculata grows in Disturbed fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.