sloughgrass

Beckmannia syzigachne

characteristics

Coarse, erect, thick-stemmed; grows in tufts. Large pale-green leaves are flat and stiff. Seedheads emerge from within a rolled leaf. Densely packed seeds, stacked like plates along the top of the stalk. Seems no where to be found then suddenly appears. Can be abundant.

Classified as a perennial but behaves more like an annual, rarely showing up in the same place year after year. In fact, this grass moves around a lot.

238,000 seeds/pound; starts from seed, container, does not transplant.

habitat

Ditches, moist to wet areas, sloughs, lakeshores, standing water.

uses

Seed can be ground into flour; used as cereal.
Seeds are a favourite food of rodents.