Which plant is an erect, tufted perennial grass with terminal spikes 2-4 inches long?

• A. Tamarisk
• B. Jointed Goatgrass
• C. Quackgrass
• D. Field Bindweed

Answer: (C)

The characteristic combination here is an erect, tufted perennial grass that bears a long, terminal spike. Quackgrass fits this description: it is a perennial grass that often grows in dense tufts or patches (and can spread via creeping rhizomes), and its flowering structure is a compact terminal spike about 2–4 inches long. This distinguishes it from non-grass plants like tamarisk (a shrub) or field bindweed (a creeping vine), and from other grasses like jointed goatgrass, which tends to have a different, less compact inflorescence and may be annual rather than persistent as quackgrass is.