timothy

Family

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Phleum pratense

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Phleum pratense ssp. Nodosum

Phleum pratense var. nodosum

Phleum nodosum

Habit

Timothy occurs as a weed in low-maintenance turfgrass. It persists through the winter but only flowers in the summer months of June and July.

Leaves

Leaves start off flat and form into a sharp point on the ends. The blades are 5 to 8 mm wide by 8 to 23 cm long, hairless, with rough margins, especially towards the base. The Ligule is membranous (2-4 mm) and toothed at the corners.

Identifying Characteristics

Membranous ligule that is toothed at corners, foliage lacks hairs. Plants arise from short rhizomes.

Flower Seed Head

Flowers are produced from June through July in a terminal spike-like panicle (5-10 cm long by 5-8 mm wide). Panicles are cylindrical, stiff, and somewhat bristly. The seedhead is in the formation of spikelets, which are fringed with short hairs covered with seeds.

Seed Fruit

Seeds are 1.8-2.2 mm long and are abruptly rounded with one end to a point.

Where Found

Timothy is used as hay but occurs as a weed in low-maintenance turfgrass. It is also found on the sides of roads, and in abandoned fields. Geographically Timothy may be found throughout the United States and southern Canada but requires nutrient-rich soils.