Elymus repens (Couch Grass) is a very common species of grass native to Europe. It has creeping rhizomes which enable it to grow rapidly across grassland.

The stems grow to 120 cm tall, with linear leaves 15-40 cm long and 1 cm broad at the base. The flower spike is 10-20 cm long, with spikelets 2-3 cm long, 5-7 mm broad and 3 mm thick.

Synonyms include Agropyron repens, Agropyron repens var. subulatum, Elytrigia repens, Elytrigia repens var vaillantiana, Elytrigia vaillantiana, Triticum repens and Triticum vaillantianum. Other names include Twitch, Quick grass, Quitch grass and Quackgrass.

It has become naturalised throughout much of the world. It is a recognized as a notoriously invasive weed.

Gallery

References

• ITIS report on Elymus repens

Grasses

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