Vulpia octoflora

Seeds do not germinate well when fresh and require treatment. Both prechilling and dry storage at room temperature for several months improves germination. Germination was best at a constant 68 degrees F (20 C) and 59-77 F (15-25 C) alternating temperature. Light experiments revealed that germination requirements envolve both light and temperature. Germination was highest at alternating temperatures of 59-86 F (15-30 C) and 100 footcandles of light. At alternating temperatures of 59-77 F (15-25 C) and 68-86 F (20-30 C), light lower than 100 footcandles was more beneficial (Hylton and Louis 1961).

This species is not palatable.

A warm-season, slender, upright, delicate-looking, shallow-rooted, annual grass that grows in tufts and reproduces by seed. Its common name comes from its short life cycle and its specific epitat octoflora comes from the average number of florets in a head. It is found on disturbed sites on a variety of soils throughout the United States. It is an invader in abused and low fertility range and is not palatable to livestock, making it an increaser on overgrazed pasture. Vulpia octoflora was used by the Navaho as a cool season grain crop which they planted along with corn (Wyman and Harris 1951). It is frequently found in disturbed areas throughout Louisiana, except in the coastal marsh. It ranges throughout most of the United States.