Envoy at 05:12, 8 October 2007

2007-10-08T05:12:00Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Elytrigia repens''
| image = Kweek Elytrigia repens.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Poales]]
| familia = [[Poaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Elytrigia]]''
| species = '''''E. repens'''''
| binomial = ''Elytrigia repens''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Desv.]] ex [[Nevski]]
}}

'''''Elytrigia repens''''' ('''Couch Grass'''; [[synonymy|syn.]] ''Triticum repens'' L., ''Agropyron repens'' (L.) P. Beauv., ''Elymus repens'' (L.) Gould) is a very common species of [[Poaceae|grass]] native to most of [[Europe]], [[Asia]], and northwest [[Africa]]. Other names include twitch, quick grass, quitch grass, dog grass, and quackgrass.<ref name=grin>Germplasm Resources Information Network: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102068 ''Elytrigia repens'']</ref><ref name=fnwe>Flora of NW Europe: [http://ip30.eti.uva.nl/BIS/flora.php?selected=beschrijving&menuentry=soorten&id=4625 ''Elytrigia repens'']</ref><ref name=foc>Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200025323 ''Elytrigia repens'']</ref>

[[Image:Elymus.repens.jpg|left|thumb|Flower spike]]
It has creeping [[rhizome]]s which enable it to grow rapidly across grassland. The stems ('culms') grow to 40–150 cm tall; the [[leaf|leaves]] are linear, 15–40 cm long and 3–10 mm broad at the base of the plant, with leaves higher on the stems 2–8.5 mm broad. The [[flower]] spike is 10–30 cm long, with spikelets 1–2 cm long, 5–7 mm broad and 3 mm thick with three to eight florets. The [[glume]]s are 7–12 mm long, usually without an [[awn]] or with only a short one.<ref name=fnwe/><ref name=foc/><ref name=fitter>Fitter, R., Fitter, A., & Farrer, A. (1984). ''Collins Guide to the Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns of Britain and Northern Europe''. Collins ISBN 0-00-219128-8.</ref> <br clear=left>

There are three [[subspecies]], one of these with an additional [[variety (biology)|variety]]:<ref name=grin/><ref name=fnwe/><ref name=foc/>
*''Elytrigia repens'' subsp. ''repens''. Throughout most of the range of the species.
**''Elytrigia repens'' subsp. ''repens'' var. ''repens''. Awns usually absent or if present, very short.
**''Elytrigia repens'' subsp. ''repens'' var. ''aristata'' (Döll) P.D.Sell. Awns present, up to 15 mm long.
*''Elytrigia repens'' subsp. ''elongatiformis'' (Drobow) Tzvelev (syn. ''Elytrigia elongatiformis'' (Drobow) Nevski). Central and southwestern Asia, far southeastern Europe (Ukraine).
*''Elytrigia repens'' subsp. ''longearistata'' N. R. Cui. Western China (Xinjiang).

[[Hybrid]]s are recorded with several related grasses, including ''[[Elytrigia juncea]]'' (''Elytrigia × laxa'' (Fr.) Kerguélen), ''[[Elytrigia atherica]]'' (''Elytrigia × drucei'' Stace), and with the [[barley]] species ''[[Hordeum secalinum]]'' (''× Elytrordeum langei'' (K. Richt.) Hyl.).<ref name=fnwe/>

==Ecology==
The foliage is an important forage grass for many grazing [[mammal]]s.<ref name=foc/> The [[seed]]s are eaten by several species of grassland [[bird]]s, particularly [[Bunting (bird)|buntings]] and [[finch]]es.<ref name=bwpc>Snow, D. W. & Perrins, C. M. (1998). ''The Birds of the Western Palearctic'' Concise Edition. OUP ISBN 0-19-854099-X.</ref> The [[caterpillar]]s of some [[Lepidoptera]] use it as a foodplant, e.g. the [[Essex Skipper]] (''Thymelicus lineola'').

==Cultivation and uses==
Couch Grass has become [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] throughout much of the world, and often listed as an [[invasive plant|invasive weed]].<ref name=grin/> It is very difficult to remove from garden environments. One method is to dig deep into the ground in order to remove as much of the grass as possible. The area should then be covered with a thick layer of woodchips. To further prevent re-growth cardboard can be placed underneath the woodchips. The long, white rhizomes will, however, dry out and die if left on the surface.

===Medical use===
Couch Grass has been used in [[herbal medicine]] since the [[Classical Greece|Classical Greek]] period. Sick dogs are known to dig up and eat the root, and [[mediaeval]] [[herbalist]]s used it to treat inflamed [[bladder]]s, painful urination and [[water retention]]. It also has antiseptic properties.<ref name=pfaf>Plants for a Future: [http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Elytrigia+repens ''Elytrigia repens'']</ref><ref>Howard, Michael. ''Traditional Herbal Remedies'' (Century, 1987): p.127.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{commons|Elytrigia repens}}

<gallery>
Image:Kweek ligula Elytrigia repens.jpg|Ligula
image:Kweek rizomen Elytrigia repens.jpg|Rhizomes
Image:Koeh-203.jpg|From ''Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen'', 1887
</gallery>

[[Category:Grasses]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

Couchgrass - Revision history

Envoy at 05:12, 8 October 2007