Echinochloa crus-galli (Barnyard grass)

FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.

Barnyard grass

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Commelinidae	Dayflowers and spiderworts, and several others
Order	Cyperales	Flowering plants including grasses
Family	Poaceae	Grasses (but not sedges or rushes)
Genus	Echinochloa	From the Greek echinos for “hedgehog” or “sea-urchin,” and chloe or chloa, “grass,” referring to the spikelets which are bristly
Species	crus-galli	From the Latin crus, “the leg or thigh,” and gallus, “a cock,” this specific epithet is supposed to mean “cock’s spur”

About plant names...

Barnyard grass occurs in tropical Asia and Africa, and Europe. First spotted in the Great Lakes region in the United States, it is found in moist areas throughout North America. In most areas it is considered an invasive species, because it absorbs up to 80% of the nitrogen that would otherwise grow forage crops. It absorbs so much nitrogen that it can poison livestock.

Identification: Culms (stems) are erect, up to 3′ (1 m) or rarely 5′ (1.5 m) high, or sometimes decumbent, lying flat. The grass may branch near the base. The grass blades are smooth and hairless, green sometimes tinged with purple, ⅛-½″ (5-15 mm) wide, 4-8″ (10-20 cm) long. The flowerheads, or panicles, are a group of racemes, each crowded with spikelets. Each spikelet is about ⅛″ (3 mm) long, and each raceme about 4″ (10 cm). The racemes are arranged around the stem rather like boughs of a Christmas tree, longer and further apart near the bottom. They may be green ranging to deep purple.

Online References:

Wikipedia

The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

Hort.purdue.edu

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

The United States Geographical Society's Nonindigenous Aquatic Species site

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

References:

Hitchcock, Albert Spear; revised by Chase, Agnes, Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Volume 1, Dover Books, 1971, p. 712

8/15/2013 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts

9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

9/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 27 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

8/15/2013 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Massachusetts

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv. ssp. spiralis (Vasinger) Tzvelev

Panicum crus-galli L.

Echinochloa crus-galli description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 28 Aug 2021.

9/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain

9/18/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

8/28/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3″ (11 × 7.9 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 12 × 17″ (29 × 44 cm) ID is uncertain

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm) ID is uncertain

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm)

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 7″ (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

8/28/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 20 cm)

8/28/2021 · Otter Brook Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Range:

About this map...