Scientific Family
Poaceae
Other common names
gulf barnyard grass
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
Yes
Grass Description
Origin
Introduced
Season
Warm
Found in waste places and moist, disturbed sites. Will grow in summer crops and wet places.
Plant Community
Disturbed Areas
Riparian
Low elevation
0
High elevation
7000
Similar species
Echinochloa crus-galli, E. colona
General Description
Annual or short-lived perennial grass. Stems can be from 1 to 5 feet tall, seedhead stems sprawling, bent or erect.
Seedheads rebranch, usually droop, often rice-like. Upper lemmas narrowly ovate to elliptical, never with a line of minute hairs which distinguishes it from E. crus-galls. Lower lemmas often awned; upper lemmas scarcely exceeding the glumes.
Grass type
Annual
Rhizomes
No
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
No
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
Greater than 36 inches
Seedhead Structure
Branched - contracted
Seedhead droops
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
September
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Less than 1/4 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes
Seedheads are 4 to 12 inches long and erect or often nodding, with a rather soft pinkish or pale purple color. Appears 1-flowered, lower floret is sterile.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade is hairy
No
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Flat
Blades are 4 to 24 inches long, up to 1 inch wide, and smooth.
Sheath is hairy
No
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Absent
Auricles
No
Low to poor forage value.