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False Oat-grass

Arrhenatherum elatius

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
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Plant Profile
Other Information

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Poales

Family:

Poaceae (Grass)

Also in this family:

Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Sorghum, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Maximum Size:

2 metres tall

Habitats:

Fields, gardens, grassland, hedgerows, meadows, riverbanks, roadsides, wasteland.

Flower:

Green, no petals

A long, straight awn, green or purplish.

Fruit:

A caryopsis (a type of simple, single-seeded dry fruit).

Leaves:

A clump-forming, coarse, bright green, perennial grass with a blunt ligule. The leaves are rough-textured, hairy and broad. Very common throughout all of the British Isles.

Other Names:

French Rye Grass, Onion Couch, Tall Meadow Oat, Tall Oat-grass, Tuber Oat Grass.

Frequency (UK):

Abundant

Summary

Arrhenatherum elatius, commonly known as Tall Oat-grass, is a species of grass native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It is a perennial grass that typically grows to be around 200 cm tall. It has a tufted habit, and the leaves are flat and 2-8 mm wide. It blooms in summer and its inflorescence is a narrow panicle, 15-30 cm long and 4-5 mm wide, with spikelets that are green or purplish in color. This plant is commonly found in meadows, pastures, and along roadsides. It is also used as forage for livestock, as well as an ornamental plant. It is considered as a weed in some parts of the world. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade.

Two subspecies of False Oat-grass exist within the British Isles:

Arrhenatherum elatius bulbosum - Identifiable by the presence of corms at the base of its stems. This subspecies is also called Arrhenatherum tuberosum (Onion Couch or Tuber Oat-grass).
Arrhenatherum elatius elatius - This is the more common of the two subspecies.

Blog

False oat-grass, scientific name Arrhenatherum elatius, is a perennial grass that is native to Europe but has been introduced to other parts of the world. It is also known by other common names such as tall oat-grass and tuber oat-grass.

Appearance and Characteristics

False oat-grass typically grows to be 1-2 meters tall and has a bunch-forming growth habit. The stems are smooth and erect, with a bluish-green color. The leaves are long and narrow, measuring around 30cm in length and 1cm in width. They have a rough texture on the upper surface and a smooth texture on the lower surface. The inflorescence of false oat-grass consists of dense, erect spikes that are 10-20cm in length. The flowers are green or purplish, and each spike can contain up to 1000 flowers.

Ecology and Distribution

False oat-grass is a common species in grasslands, meadows, and open woodland habitats. It can tolerate a wide range of soil types and pH levels and prefers moist to moderately dry soils. It can grow in full sun to partial shade and is often found in disturbed areas such as roadsides, fields, and waste places.

False oat-grass is native to Europe and has been introduced to other parts of the world, including North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. In some areas, it has become naturalized and is considered an invasive species.

Uses and Benefits

False oat-grass is often used as a forage crop for livestock due to its high yield and palatability. It is also used in erosion control and soil stabilization projects due to its deep root system and ability to tolerate a range of soil conditions.

In traditional medicine, false oat-grass has been used for its diuretic, laxative, and antipyretic properties. It has also been used as a poultice for skin irritations and to treat respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.

Potential Risks

False oat-grass can be a problematic weed in some areas where it has been introduced. It can outcompete native plant species and reduce biodiversity. In addition, its deep root system can make it difficult to control and remove from an area.

False oat-grass is a versatile plant that has many uses and benefits. As a forage crop, it can provide a high yield of nutritious feed for livestock. It is also useful in erosion control and soil stabilization projects. However, in areas where it has been introduced, it can become invasive and pose a threat to native plant species. As with any plant, it is important to understand its characteristics and potential risks before introducing it to a new area.

Additional Information

False oat-grass, also known as Arrhenatherum elatius, is a perennial grass that belongs to the Poaceae family. It is considered a cool-season grass and grows most actively in the spring and fall. During the summer months, it can go dormant and turn brown.

One of the distinguishing features of false oat-grass is its tuberous root system. The tubers are enlarged portions of the roots that store nutrients and water. This allows the plant to survive drought conditions and makes it difficult to remove from an area.

False oat-grass is also known to be allelopathic, meaning it releases chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. This can give it a competitive advantage and allow it to outcompete other plant species.

In addition to its use as a forage crop and in erosion control, false oat-grass has also been studied for its potential as a biofuel feedstock. Its high biomass yield and ability to grow in a range of soil conditions make it a promising candidate for bioenergy production.

False oat-grass has also been found to have allelopathic effects on other plant species, meaning that it can release chemicals that inhibit the growth of neighboring plants. This can give it a competitive advantage and allow it to outcompete other plant species, leading to a reduction in biodiversity. Therefore, it is important to carefully manage the growth of false oat-grass and prevent it from spreading uncontrollably.

In terms of cultivation, false oat-grass is generally grown from seed and requires a well-prepared seedbed with good drainage. It can be sown in the spring or fall and should be watered regularly until it is established. False oat-grass is also known to be a good companion plant, as it can help to improve the soil structure and reduce soil erosion.

In traditional medicine, false oat-grass has been used to treat a variety of conditions, including diarrhea, bronchitis, and rheumatism. It is also believed to have diuretic and laxative properties, and has been used to treat kidney and bladder problems.

False oat-grass is also known to be a host plant for a variety of insect species, including the skipper butterfly and the cereal leaf beetle. These insects can use false oat-grass as a food source or a place to lay their eggs, which can have implications for agricultural production and ecosystem health.

In terms of its nutritional value as a forage crop, false oat-grass is known to have relatively high protein content and is often used as a feed source for horses and cattle. It also has a high digestibility, meaning that it can be easily broken down by the animal's digestive system.

One of the challenges of using false oat-grass as a forage crop is that it can become fibrous and less palatable as it matures. Therefore, it is generally recommended to harvest it when it is in the vegetative stage or early flowering stage to maximize its nutritional value.

Overall, false oat-grass is a plant with many potential benefits and uses, from forage production to erosion control to potential medicinal properties. However, it is important to be aware of its potential invasiveness and to manage it carefully in order to avoid negative impacts on native ecosystems.

20 Facts about False Oat-grass

Here are 20 facts about False oat-grass:

False oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) is a perennial grass that belongs to the Poaceae family.
It is native to Europe, but has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including North America and Australia.
False oat-grass is a cool-season grass and grows most actively in the spring and fall.
It has a tuberous root system that allows it to store nutrients and water, making it drought-resistant.
False oat-grass can be allelopathic, releasing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plant species.
It can be used as a forage crop for livestock, as it has relatively high protein content and digestibility.
False oat-grass is also used in erosion control, due to its ability to stabilize soil.
Its high biomass yield and ability to grow in a range of soil conditions make it a promising candidate for bioenergy production.
False oat-grass can become fibrous and less palatable as it matures, so it is generally recommended to harvest it when it is in the vegetative stage or early flowering stage.
The tuberous root system of false oat-grass makes it difficult to remove from an area, which can make it a problematic invasive species.
False oat-grass is a host plant for a variety of insect species, including the skipper butterfly and the cereal leaf beetle.
It is also known to have potential medicinal properties and has been used in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as diarrhea and rheumatism.
False oat-grass is a good companion plant, as it can help to improve soil structure and reduce soil erosion.
It is generally grown from seed and requires a well-prepared seedbed with good drainage.
False oat-grass can go dormant and turn brown during the summer months.
In addition to its tuberous root system, false oat-grass can also spread through rhizomes.
It is important to manage false oat-grass carefully to prevent it from becoming invasive and causing negative impacts on native ecosystems.
False oat-grass can outcompete other plant species, leading to a reduction in biodiversity.
Its potential as a bioenergy feedstock and its high biomass yield make it a promising crop for sustainable energy production.
False oat-grass is also known by several other common names, including tall oat-grass, onion couch, and tuber oat-grass.

False oat-grass is a cool-season perennial grass that is native to Europe and has been introduced to many other parts of the world. It has a tuberous root system and can be allelopathic, which can make it a problematic invasive species. However, it also has many potential benefits, including its use as a forage crop, in erosion control, and even as a biofuel feedstock. Its potential medicinal properties and role as a host plant for several insect species further highlight its ecological significance. It is important to manage false oat-grass carefully to prevent it from causing negative impacts on native ecosystems.

Video

False Oat-grass filmed at Smardale in Cumbria on the 16th June 2023.

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