Turfgrass Identification Key

This identification key is for 36 grasses which might typically be found in sportsturf, lawns and turf surrounds.

This key differs slightly from others, but still uses the process of elimination of certain characteristics at key points. This should hopefully result in the correct identification of the desired grass. Some grasses are included several times within the key to allow for a certain degree of error in interpreting specimens. It is also advisable to look at more than one specimen to make correct identification more likely.

Most of the grasses can be found in the surrounds, or edges, of turf areas, however, those grasses which can readily be found within a sportsturf area are identified with a typical example.

Abbreviations used in this Key: [T] = tufted growth; [R] = spread by rhizomes; [S] = spread by stolons.

Flat Blade ? (Start here)		or		Bristle like Blade ? (Go to Table below this one)
Ligules - Fringe of hairs	Yes Select from 2 choices	1. Heath grass [T] Similar colour to Annual meadow grass. Dry to wet soils; Embankments.
No		2. Purple moor grass [T] Wider and longer leaf than Heath grass. Darker greyish green leaf. Rough blade edges. Moist to wet soils. Semi-rough.
Basal sheaths are folded, being generally squashed.	Yes	Distinctly compressed basal sheath of coarse, tufted grass	Yes	Cocksfoot [T] Prominent ligule; firm leaves with rough margins; pointed blades.
No		No
		Blades are distinctly ribbed	Yes	Go to 'Small auricles present' below and follow key
		No
		Leaves are often boat shaped and typically possess two translucent tramlines, one either side of the mid-rib	No	Not in this key
		Yes
		Extremely small ligules	Yes	Wood meadow grass [T] Fine leaves; shady areas
		No Select from 4 choices
	1. Smooth stalked meadow grass [R] Small ligules; smooth sheath; brightish green, soft blades; drier soils than RSMG. Golf tees, football pitches	2. Flattened meadow grass [R] Small ligules; greyish green, firm blades; dry soils.	3. Annual meadow grass [T] Small - medium ligules; widespread.	4. Rough stalked meadow grass [S] Medium to large ligules; rough sheath; wetter soils.
Blades are distinctly ribbed	Yes	Small auricles present	Yes	Perennial ryegrass [T] Slightly compressed basal; Small ligules; ribbed and dull upper blade surface; shiny and smooth lower blade surface. Noticeable auricles; prominent mid-rib; pink/red/purple basal sheath. Most soils; areas mown at greater than 18mm; also cricket tables
No		No Select from 3 choices
		1. Crested dogs-tail [T] Rounded sheath, occasionally slightly compressed in young plants only; Similar to perennial ryegrass, but basal colour typically yellow, not red or shades of. Most soils.	2. Common salt marsh grass [T / S] compressed only by the leaf / sheath junction; Small ligules; narrower leaves than Tufted hair grass; saltmarshes, rare nowadays - previously on sea washed, bowling green turf	3. Tufted hair grass [T] Tussock forming; compressed only by the leaf / sheath junction; Large ligules; rough upper surface, smooth lower surface; wet soils, light shade; some football stadia mixtures.
Auricles	Yes Select from 2 choices	1. Couch grass [R] Very noticeable auricles; ligules small, slightly hairy leaf; golf bunkers	2. Tall fescue [T] Tussock forming; small, lightly hairy auricles; light hairs at junction leaf blade and stem; ligules small; moist soils.
No
Leaf and sheath, lightly hairy	Yes	Very small ligule, less than 1mm	Yes	Crested hairgrass [T / occasionally R] leaves and sheaths hairy, sometimes hairless; Fine leaf, sometimes bristle like; very small ligule; dry, chalky soils
No		No Select from 3 choices
		1. Yorkshire fog [T] softly hairy leaves and sheaths; small to medium ligule; pink stripes on basal; medium sized leaf; widespread weed grass, especially of fine turf, open areas.	2. Creeping softgrass [R] softly hairy leaves and sheaths; small to medium ligule; medium sized leaf; including shady areas.	3. Sweet vernal grass [T] hairs at junction of leaf and sheath; small to medium ligule; small to medium sized leaves; widespread, turf surrounds
Basal sheaths usually swollen and brownish in colour	Yes Select from 2 choices	1. Large leaved Timothy grass [T] larger leaves and ligules; moist soils;	2. Small leaved Timothy grass [T / occasionally S] narrower leaves and smaller ligules; dry to moist soils;
No
Leaves with fine ribs/veins on the upper surface	No	Recheck to see if the basal is slightly compressed
Yes
Slightly boat shaped tip to blade; ribs feel rough;	Yes	Common salt marsh grass [T / S] Small ligules; narrower leaves than Tufted hair grass. saltmarshes, rare nowadays - previously on sea washed, bowling green turf
No
Noticeable hairs at junction of blade and sheath	Yes	Sweet vernal grass [T] hairs at junction of leaf and sheath; small to medium ligule; small to medium sized leaves;
No
Blades are parallel, then taper to a fine point : Bent grasses	No	Try again or Not in this key
Yes Select from 6 choices
1. Creeping bent [S] Ligule - small to medium, narrow; golf greens	2&3. Browntop bents (a) Common Browntop [R, sometimes S]; Ligule - small, broad; fine turf; (b) 'Highland' Browntop [R]; Ligule slightly longer than Common Browntop, especially the uppermost ligule; generally a lighter green colour in summer and a darker green in winter than Common Browntop; fine turf.	4. Velvet bent [S] Ligule - medium, often pointed; moist soils; specialist sowings on bowls & golf greens	5. Brown bent [R] Ligule - small - medium, upper ones pointed; dry soils.	6. Black bent [R] Ligule - small to medium, with a toothed end or blunt; generally wider blades than no.'s 2,3,4 & 5 bents;

Bristle like blade
Ligule is prominent, being greater than 0.5mm in length	Yes Select from 4 choices	1. Wavy hair grass [T] Ligule - small - medium; acid soils; shady areas.
No		2. Crested hair grass [T / occasionally R] leaves and sheaths hairy, sometimes hairless; Fine leaf, sometimes flat; very small ligule; dry, chalky soils
		3. Mat grass [T/R] Coarse roots; firm, shiny basals; small ligule; acid soils.
		4. Bristle leaved bent [T] medium sized ligule; yellowish coloured basal; dry soils, southern England.
Basal sheath is tubular and entire, often a slightly reddish colour	Yes Select from 4 choices	1. Strong creeping red fescue [R] Sheath with hairs; golf tees, some football pitches.	2&3. Slender creeping red fescue (a) ssp litoralis [R] basal smooth, finer leaf than (b); or (b) ssp pruinosa [R] basal with hairs, coarser leaf than (a); occasional whitish substance to blades. Both ssp : golf / bowling greens.	4. Chewing's fescue [T] Sheath smooth; fine turf areas.
No
Basal sheath is initially entire and usually quite hairy	Yes	Crested hair grass [T / occasionally R] leaves and sheaths hairy, sometimes hairless; Fine leaf, sometimes flat; very small ligule; dry, chalky soils
No
Basal sheath is split and open, and is not a reddish colour	Yes Select from 3 choices	1. Hard fescue [T] slightly 'coarser' leaved than the two sheep's fescues; dark green basal leaf sheath; dry soils; golf tees.	2. Sheeps fescue [T] fine leaf; acid - alkaline soils, free draining	3. Fine leaved sheeps fescue [T] very fine leaf; acid, dry to moist soils.
No
Not in this key

Scientific names of the grasses used in this key:

1. Heath grass, Danthonia decumbens (syn. Sieglingia decumbens)
2. Purple moor grass, Molinia caerulea
3. Cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata
4. Perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne
5. Crested dog's-tail, Cynosurus cristatus
6. Annual meadow grass, Poa annua
7. Smooth-stalked meadow grass, Poa pratensis
8. Rough-stalked meadow grass, Poa trivialis
9. Wood meadow grass, Poa nemoralis
10. Flattened meadow grass, Poa compressa
11. Tufted hairgrass, Deschampsia caespitosa
12. Common salt-marsh grass, Puccinellia maritima
13. Couch grass, Elymus repens (syn. Agropyrons repens)
14. Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea
15. Yorkshire fog, Holcus lanatus
16. Creeping softgrass, Holcus mollis
17. Crested hairgrass, Koeleria macrantha (syn. Koeleria cristata)
18. Sweet vernal grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum
19. Large leaved Timothy grass, Phleum pratense
20. Small leaved Timothy grass, Phleum pratense ssp bertolonii (syn. Phleum bertolonii)
21. Creeping bent, Agrostis stolonifera
22. Common Browntop bent, Agrostis capillaris (syn. Agrostis tenuis)
23. 'Highland' Browntop bent, Agrostis castellana
24. Velvet bent, Agrostis canina ssp canina
25. Brown bent, Agrostis vinealis (syn. Agrostis canina ssp montana)
26. Black bent, Agrostis gigantea
27. Wavy hair grass, Deschampsia flexuosa
28. Mat grass, Nardus stricta
29. Bristle leaved bent, Agrostis curtsii (syn. Agrostis setacea)
30. Strong creeping red fescue, Fesctuca rubra ssp rubra
31. Slender creeping red fescue, Festuca rubra ssp litoralis
32. Slender creeping red fescue (Bloomed fescue), Festuca rubra ssp pruinosa
33. Chewing's fescue, Festuca nigrescens (syn. Festuca rubra ssp commutata)
34. Hard fescue, Festuca longifolia
35. Sheep's fescue, Festuca ovina
36. Fine-leaved sheep's fescue, Festuca tenuifolia