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Volunteer Rye (Secale cereale)

Volunteer rye, also called common or annual rye, is mostly an annual that is believed to be derived from S. Montanum a perennial native in the mountains of southwestern Asia. The first blade is tall, narrow, and vertical. Blades are covered with short hair and have prominent veins above and a midrib below. Sheaths are covered with short hairs. The spikes are 4 to 6 inches long, slender, and long-bearded.

Volunteer rye can be found throughout eastern Colorado in wheat fields, roadsides, ditches, and waste places. It has become a major problem in the wheat fields in Colorado. Volunteer rye typically costs the Colorado farmer 8 to 10 bushels of wheat yield per acre.

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