timothy
Family
PoaceaeScientific Name
Phleum pratenseSynonyms (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.
Leaf Hair on Upper Surface
no hairs
Leaf Arrangement
rolled in bud
Mature Leaf Width
6 to 15 mm
Stem
round
Seedhead
spike
Life Cycle
perennial
Auricle
not present
Ligule
membrane
Plant Type
Grass