Agrostis exarata Trin.
Spike bentgrass

Family:  Poaceae

Habit:  Tufted perennial grass 2 to 12 dm. tall.

Distribution:  Found in moist places along creeks, rivers or roadsides in open woodlands and coniferous forests; from Alaska to South Dakota and south to California, Texas and Mexico.

Seed unit:  Single floret spikelet with caryopsis.

Seed:  Glumes 1.5 to 3.5 mm. Lemma 1 to 2 mm. long, ending in a prickle or short awn.  Palea minute.

Embryo:  Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.

Purity instructions:   Pure seed definition:
AOSA:  PSU #13 - Single floret spikelet or floret with or without awns, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected.  Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one half of the original size.

Lab notes:  For purity examinations on this species, a general seed blower and a diphanoscope are helpful.

Average pure seed units per gram:  12,373 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 7 samples received for testing from 1996 to 2002). 

Range of percent pure seed:   92% to 98%

Range of percent inert: 1% to 7%

Description of inert:  Chaff, plant material, dirt.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15-25°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.

References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed.  1993.  p. 1229.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck.  1968.  p. 1522.
Ransom Seed Laboratory