Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Johnson Grass - Sorghum halepense   (L.) Persoon
Members of Poaceae:
Members of Sorghum with account distribution info or public map:
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Section 5 » Order Cyperales » Family Poaceae
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Author(L.) Persoon
DistributionThroughout the state; no doubt in every county.

Native of the Mediterranean region; in N.A. mostly in the southern 4/5 of the U.S.
AbundanceCommon to often abundant -- a noxious weed of waste places.
HabitatRoadsides, fields, meadows, pastures, crop fields, waste places. Fortunately, this weed tends to not invade natural habitats, though it certainly can outcompete smaller native herbs that inhabit disturbed ground.
PhenologyFlowering and fruiting May-November.
IdentificationJohnson Grass is a very familiar roadside weed, growing up to 6 or 7 feet tall from tough horizontal rhizomes. The leaves may reach 3 feet and taper gradually to the tip. The inflorescence is roughly triangular in outline, rather open, the main branches well-spaced. Note the prominent awn on each spikelet and the reddish color of the inflorescence.
Taxonomic CommentsNone

Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankGNR
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B.A. SorrieRoadside disturbed area, Sept 2014. MoorePhoto_non_natural
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