Agropyron cristatum (L.). Crested Wheatgrass Habit: Densely tufted perennial. Culms: Erect, 30-100 cm. tall. Blades: Flat, usually dark green in the early part of the season; 2-17 cm long, 2-8 cm wide; pubescent to glabrous; auriculate. Sheaths: The lower longer than the internodes, glabrous. Ligule: Membranous, short. Inflorescence: A dense bilateral spike, mostly 4-8 cm. long: spikelets solitary at the nodes; divergent, closely overlapping; internodes of the rachis pubescent, 1 mm. long. Spikelets: 3-9-flowered; compressed, glabrous to pubescent; closely imbricate, somewhat spreading, 5-15 mm. long. Glumes: 2-6 mm long; firm, keeled, tapering into a short awn which may be lacking or up to 3.5 mm long.. Lemmas: 4-8 mm long; abruptly narrowing to an awn 2-5 mm long. Habitat: Usually found in tame pasture plantings, occasionally escaping. Kansas Range: Rare, primarily in cropland reseeded to native grasses. Use: Excellent hay and grazing grass during cool weather. Remarks: Introduced from Eurasia.