The two values are anthesis timing and wetlands status for the Northeast. See page bottom for additional usage notes.
Agrostis canina • Summer-Fall • UPL
Agrostis capillaris • Summer-Fall • FAC
Agrostis gigantea • LateSpring-Summer • FACW
Agrostis hyemalis • Spring • FAC
Agrostis mertensii • LateSummer • FACU
Agrostis perennans • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Agrostis scabra • Summer-Fall • FAC
Agrostis stolonifera • Summer-Fall • FACW
Alopecurus aequalis • Summer • OBL
Alopecurus genticulatus • Summer • OBL
Alopecurus pratensis • EarlySummer • FAC
Ammophila breviligulata • Summer-Fall • UPL
Andropogon gerardii • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Anthoxanthum (Hierochloe) hirtum • Spring-Summer • FACW
Anthoxanthum monticola (Hierochloe alpina) • LateSummer • UPL alpine
Anthoxanthum nitens (Hierochloe odorata) • Summer • FACW
Anthoxanthum odoratum • Spring-Summer • FACU
Anthoxanthum ovatum (syn A.aristatum) • Fall • UPL
Aristida basiramea • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Aristida dichotoma • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Aristida oligantha • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Arrhenatherum elatius • EarlySummer • FACU
Avena sativa (Oats) • cultivated • UPL
Brachyelytrum aristosum • LateSummer • FACU
Bromus ciliatus • Summer-Fall • FACW
Bromus commutatus • Summer • UPL
Bromus erectus • LateSpring-LateSummer • UPL
Bromus hordeaceus • LateSummer • UPL
Bromus inermis • EarlySummer • UPL
Bromus japonicus • Summer • FACU
Bromus kalmii • LateSummer • FAC
Bromus latiglumis • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Bromus marginatus • Spring • UPL
Bromus pubescens • Summer • FACU
Bromus secalinus • Summer • UPL
Bromus tectorum • LateSpring-EarlySumer • UPL
Calamagrostis canadensis • Summer • OBL
Calamagrostis cinnoides • Summer-Fall • OBL
Calamagrostis pickeringii • Summer-Fall • FACW
Calamagrostis stricta • Summer-Fall • FACW
Cenchrus longispinus • Summer-Fall • UPL
Cenchrus spinifex • Summer-Fall • UPL
Cinna arundinacea • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Cinna latifolia • Summer-Fall • FACW
Dactylis glomerata • Summer • FACU
Danthonia compressa • Summer-Fall • FACU
Danthonia spicata • Summer-Fall • UPL
Deschampsia anadyrensis (syn D.caespitosa) • LateSummer • FACW
Deschampsia caespitosa • LateSummer • FACW
Deschampsia flexuosa • LateSummer • FACU
Dichanthelium acuminatum • LateSpring-Fall • FAC
Dichanthelium boreale • LateSpring-Fall • FAC
Dichanthelium clandestinum • LateSpring-Fall • FACW
Dichanthelium depauperatum • LateSpring-Fall • UPL
Dichanthelium latifolium • LateSpring-Fall • FACU
Dichanthelium linearifolium • LateSpring-Fall • UPL
Dichanthelium oligosanthes • LateSpring-Fall • FACU
Dichanthelium sphaerocaron • LateSpring-Fall • FACU
Dichanthelium xanthophysum • EarlySummer-Fall • UPL
Digitaria ischaemum • Summer-Fall • FACU
Digitaria sanguinalis • Summer-Fall • FACU
Distichlis spicata • Summer-Fall • FACW
Echinochloa crus-galli • LateSummer-Fall • FAC
Echinochloa frumentacea • LateSpring-Summer • FAC
Echinochloa muricata • LateSummer-Fall • OBL
Elymus canadensis • Summer-Fall • FACU
Elymus hystrix • Summer • FACU
Elymus macgregorii • Spring • FACU
Elymus (Elytrigia) repens • Summer-Fall • FACU
Elymus riparius • Summer-Fall • FACW
Elymus (Agropyron) trachycaulus • LateSummer • FACU
Elymus virginicus • LateSummer • FACW
Elymus wiegandii • LateSummer • FAC
Eragrostis cilianensis • Summer-Fall • FACU
Eragrostis frankii • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Eragrostis minor • Summer-Fall • UPL
Eragrostis pectinacea • LateSummer-Fall • FAC
Eragrostis pilosa • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Eragrostis spectabilis • Summer-Fall • UPL
Festuca filiformis • Summer • FACW
Festuca ovina • Summer • UPL
Festuca prolifera • Summer • UPL alpine
Festuca rubra • Summer • FACU
Festuca subverticilata • Summer • FACU
Festuca trachyphylla (ssp F.ovina) • Summer • UPL
Glyceria acutiflora • Summer • OBL
Glyceria borealis • Summer • OBL
Glyceria canadensis • Summer • OBL
Glyceria grandis • Summer • OBL
Glyceria laxa • Summer • OBL
Glyceria melicaria • LateSummer • OBL
Glyceria obtusa • LateSummer-Fall • OBL
Glyceria septentrionalis • Summer • OBL
Glyceria striata • EarlySummer-Fall • OBL
Graphephorum (Trisetum) melicoides • LateSummer • FACW
Holcus lanatus • Summer • FACU
Hordeum jubatum • LateSummer • FAC
Hordeum vulgare (Barley) • cultivated • UPL
Leersia oryzoides • Summer-Fall • OBL
Leersia virginica • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Leptochloa (Diplachne) fusca • LateSummer • OBL
Leymus mollis • Summer • FACU
Lolium multiflorum • Summer • FACU
Lolium perenne • Summer • FACU
Milium effusum • Summer • FACU
Miscanthus sacchariflorus • Fall • UPL
Molinia caeulea • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Muhlenbergia frondosa • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Muhlenbergia glomerata • LateSummer-Fall • OBL
Muhlenbergia mexicana • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Muhlenbergia racemosa • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Muhlenbergia richardsonis • LateSummer • FACW
Muhlenbergia schreberi • LateSummer-Fall • FAC
Muhlenbergia sobolifera • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Muhlenbergia sylvatica • Summer-Fall • FACW
Muhlenbergia uniflora • LateSummer-Fall • OBL
Oryzopsis asperifolia • Spring-EarlySummer • UPL
Panicum capillare • Summer-Fall • FAC
Panicum dichotomiflorum • Summer-Fall • FACW
Panicum miliaceum • Summer-Fall • UPL
Panicum tuckermanii (var of P.philadelphicum) • LateSummer-Fall • FAC
Panicum virigatum • LateSummer-Fall • FAC
Phalaris arundinacea • Summer • FACW
Phalaris canariensis • Summer-Fall • FACU
Phleum alpinum • LateSummer • FACW
Phleum pratense • LateSummer • FACU
Phragmites americanus • LateSummer • FACW
Phragmites australis • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Piptatherum (Oryzopsis) canadense • LateSummer • UPL
Piptatherum (Oryzopsis) pungens • LateSummer • UPL
Piptatherum (Oryzopsis) racemosum • LateSummer • UPL
Poa alsodes • EarlySummer • FAC
Poa annua • Spring-Fall • FACU
Poa bulbosa • Spring-EarlySummer • FACU
Poa compressa • Summer • FACU
Poa glauca • Summer • UPL
Poa laxa • LateSummer • UPL
Poa nemoralis • EarlySummer-Fall • FAC
Poa palustris • Summer • FACW
Poa pratensis • Summer • FACU
Poa saltuensis • Summer • UPL
Poa trivialis • Summer • FACW
Puccinellia distans • EarlySummer-Fall • FACW
Puccinellia fasciculata • Summer • OBL
Puccinellia maritima • Summer • OBL
Puccinellia pumila • EarlySummer-Fall • OBL
Schedonorus (Festuca) arundiaceus • LateSummer • FACU
Schedonorus (Festuca) pratensis • LateSummer • FACU
Schizachne purpurascens • Summer • FACU
Schizachyrium scoparium • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Secale cereale (Rye) • cultivated • UPL
Setaria faberi • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Setaria italica • Summer-Fall • FACU
Setaria pumila • Summer-Fall • FACU
Setaria verticillata • Summer-Fall • FACU
Setaria viridis • Summer-Fall • FACU
Sorengia longifolia (Panicum) • LateSummer-Fall • FACW
Sorghastrum nutans • Fall • FACU
Spartina alternaflora • Summer-Fall • OBL
Spartina patens • Summer-Fall • FACW
Spartina pectinata • Summer-Fall • FACW
Sphenopholis intermedia • Summer • FAC
Sphenopholis obtusata • Summer • FAC
Sporobolis compositus • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Sporobolis cryptandrus • Summer-Fall • FACU
Sporobolis neglectus • LateSummer-Fall • FACU
Sporobolis vaginiflorus • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Thinopyrum pycnanthum (Elytrigia pungens) • LateSummer • FACW
Torreyochloa pallida • Summer • OBL
Triplasis purpurea • LateSummer-Fall • UPL
Trisetum spicatum • Summer • FAC
Triticum aestivum (Wheat) • cultivated • UPL
Vahlodea aropurpurea • LateSummer • FACW
Ventenata dubia • Summer • UPL
Vulpia octoflora • Summer • FACU
Zizania aquatica • Summer-Fall • OBL
Zizania palustris • Summer-Fall • OBL
Bold species are very common according to Grasses and Rushes of Maine (GROM) or in this author's opinion. Italicized are uncommon or 'rare' with the same caveat. Red species have a State conservation ranking in Maine (2021). These categories are pretty ambiguous. Some species, despite their listing in this checklist, might be very common locally. Some common species are common only in the right habitat. "Common" does not equate with ubiquitous like Canada mayflower or dandelion. These are subjective ratings that might help the novice decide on a potential ID.
I made the entire line bold, italicized, or red, to enhance readablity since this is a fairly lengthy list without any groupings.
Historical collections and species not thought to be extant are omitted. Those are included in the appendix of GROM. Hybrids, subspecies and varieties are omitted. Discoveries since the publication of GROM are omitted.
Common synonyms, especially those in Magee and GoBotany, are in parenthesis.
Anthesis, the time when a flower is open and shedding pollen or the stigma is accepting pollen, is adapted from Magee and Flora of North America. I've used seasons rather than specific months to allow for the dramatic differences between southern Maine and 'The County' as well as the mountains versus the coast. Most Mainers know that "summer" has little relation the June solstice. Global warming has also impacted anthesis and I've tried to take that into account but that will continue to cause anthesis to shift.
Wetland status is from USDA PLANTS database which reflects the US Army Corps of Engineers values.
Below are the official definitions of wetland status as defined by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The real value in wetland status is in using habitat to help ID a species. The novice often gets tied up in the key and its vocabulary. Sometimes habitat can point one right to genus or species without having to get bogged down in key vacabulary. Habitat can also eliminate some species from consideration which is equally helpful.
OBL - Obligate Wetland = Almost always occurs in wetlands (probability > 99%).
FACW - Facultative Wetland = Usually occurs in wetlands (probability > 67%), but occasionally found in non-wetlands (probability < 33%).
FAC - Facultative = Equally likely to occur in wetlands and non-wetlands (probability 34% – 66%).
FACU - Facultative Upland = Usually occurs in non-wetlands (probability > 67%), but occasionally found in wetlands (probability < 33%).
UPL - Obligate Upland = Almost always occurs in non-wetlands (probability > 99%). Species that are not officially classified are placed here.
GoBotany Poaceae - Random access key specific to New England based on Arthur Haines' Flora Novae Angliae. Species descriptions are comprehensive and there are usually numerous photos. The 'Sometimes Confused With' section for each species is helpful.
I get asked for these a lot. I do not use common names except in the cases where the grass is common and easy to ID, or where it has a good story to tell. Many grasses do not really have common names. The following are the common names for grass genera based on GROM. In some cases these were created to make grasses more accessible to the general public. They are a compromise and some people may know some species by entirely different names. Note that the common names of grasses vary wildly throughout the US.
Agrostis - Bentgrass
Alopecurus - Meadow Foxtail
Ammophila - Beach Grass
Anthoxanthum - Sweet Grass
Aristida - Threeawn
Arrhenatherum - Oat Grass
Avena - Oats
Brachyelytrum - Wood Grass
Bromus - Brome
Calamagrostis - Reed Grass
Cenchrus - Sandbur
Cinna - Wood Reed
Dactylis - Orchard Grass
Danthonia - Oatgrass
Deschampsia - Hair Grass
Dicanthelium - Panicgrass
Digitaris - Crabgrass
Distichlis - Saltgrass
Elymus - Wild Rye
Eragrostis - Lovegrass
Festuca - Fescue
Glyceria - Manna Grass
Graphephorum - False Melic
Holcus - Velvet Grass
Hordeum - Barley
Leersia - Cut Grass
Leptochloa - Sprangletop
Leymus - Dune Grass
Lolium - Ryegrass
Milium - Milletgrass
Miscanthus - Silvergrass
Molina - Moorgrass
Muhlenbergia - Muhly
Oryzopsis - Ricegrass
Panicum - Panicgrass
Phalaris - Canary Grass
Phleum - Timothy
Phragmites - Reed
Piptatherum - Mountain-rice Grass
Poa - Bluegrass
Puccinellia - Alkai Grass
Schedonorus - Rye Grass
Schizachne - Melic Grass
Setaria - Foxtail
Spartina - Cordgrass
Sphenopholis - Wedgescale
Sporobolis - Dropseed
Thinopyrum - Quack Grass
Torreyochloa - False Manna Grass
Triplasis - Sandgrass
Trisetum - False Oat
Vahlodea - Hair Grass
Ventenata - North African Grass
Vulpia - Six-weeks Grass
Zizania - Wild Rice
Errors, improvements or suggestions? Email info@DigitalNaturalist.INFO.
last update 2022-Mar-15