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
Older scientific or horticultural names
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.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
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:
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