Fowl Manna Grass, Glyceria striata, is a native, cool season grass found in every county in Illinois in forests and wetlands. It grows two to three feet tall and its smooth stems have just a few leaves along them. You can also find a tall, white membranous ligule in the collar region....

Cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum, is a non-native winter or spring annual. It grows between one and three feet tall in disturbed, low-quality habitats. The leaf blades are covered with long, soft hairs.

When identifying this grass, look for its tall membranous ligule. The inflorescence is a...

Broomsedge, Andropogon virginicus, is a native, warm season grass. This bunchgrass typically grows two to three feet tall. Broomsedge has flattened rather than round stems, and it has many leaves, resulting in a bushy appearance. This grass often, but not always, has hairy leaf blades...

Bottlebrush Grass, Elymus hystrix, is a native, cool season grass that can be found in the woods. It grows between two and a half and five feet tall. Its leaves are often twisted where they join the stem so the underside of the leaf faces up, and they also droop at...

Big Bluestem, Andropogon gerardii, is a native, warm season grass indicative of Illinois's tallgrass prairies. This robust bunchgrass often grows between five and eight feet tall. The stems of Big Bluestem are a bit flattened rather than perfectly round. ...

Beaked Panic Grass, Coleataenia anceps, is a  native warm season grass. It is mostly found in southern Illinois in disturbed, moist  habitats. It grows between two and four feet tall and its leaves are keeled, which  means it looks like the leaf blade and the...

Barnyard Grass, Echinochloa muricata, is a native  summer annual found in every county in Illinois, typically in disturbed habitats or wetter  areas. The leaves are rather broad, and this grass is unique because it  does not have a ligule. Instead of a membrane or...