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

Barnyard grass

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:

Missouriplants.com

Wikipedia

The Virginia Tech Weed Identification Guide

Purdue University's Center for New Crops and Plants Products

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
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 15 cm)

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 15 × 10" (37 × 25 cm)

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 × 10" (17 × 25 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
≈ 3½ × 5" (8.8 × 12 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
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm)

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
≈ 12 × 8" (30 × 21 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2009 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 5" (11 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

9/3/2020 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 14 cm)

8/15/2013 · Groton Place and Sabine Woods, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

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

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

9/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, near Nashoba Hospital, Ayer, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 10" (19 × 25 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
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm)

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 4½ × 6" (11 × 16 cm) ID is uncertain

9/11/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 7" (20 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

8/18/2010 · J. Harry Rich Woods, off Nod Rd., Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 10" (20 × 25 cm) ID is uncertain

8/16/2013 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 12 × 19" (31 × 47 cm)

8/17/2019 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Wildflower Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 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:

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