Barnyard grass
Echinochloa crus-galli
Auricles
Absent
Ligule
Absent
Leaf blade
Dark grey/green, hairless
Importance
Introduced from North America. Requires higher temperatures to germinate, spring/summer. Very important grass-weed in tropical and sub-tropical crops also found in temperate zones.
Description
Young plants have reddish/brown stripes at the base of the leaf. Tuft forming plants up to 120 cm in height. The panicles are up to 20 cm in length with spiky dense racemes with bristly hairs and long or short awns.
Barnyard grass flower head © Blackthorn arable
Barnyard grass young plant.
Barnyard grass mature plant.