Elytrigia
repens (rope twitch or cooch) is a widespread and very common weed species in
Tasmania. The distinctive feature is the inflorescence, which is a
spike of spikelets. The spikelets have awns on the flowers (up to
5cm log) and are attached to a zig-zag stem. A few related species
have a similar form, but either have distinct awns (e.g.
Elymus spp.), or very blunt glumes (Lophopyrum
ponticum), or a fragile inflorescences that breaks easily at
the nodes (Thinopyrum junceiforme).
The common usage of the name couch and cooch are rather confused
in Tasmania - they may refer to Elytrigia, but also to
Cynodon dactylon. |