| Elytrigia
repens (english couch, rope twitch or cooch) is a
widespread and very common weed species in
Tasmania. The distinctive feature is the inflorescence,
which is a spike of spikelets. The spikelets have awns on
the flowers (up to 5cm log) and are attached to a zig-zag
stem. A few related species have a similar form, but either
have distinct awns (e.g. Elymus
spp.), or very blunt glumes (Lophopyrum
ponticum), or a fragile inflorescences that
breaks easily at the nodes (Thinopyrum
junceiforme).
The common usage of the name couch and cooch are rather
confused in Tasmania - they may refer to Elytrigia,
but also to Cynodon dactylon.
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University of Tasmania
