Barnyardgrass

Barnyardgrass

Echinochloa crus-galli (l.) Beauv.

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plant, showing flattened, often reddish basal leaf sheaths

▲ leaf collar area, showing lack of ligule

▲ mature, flowering plant

inflorescences with short awns ▲, and long awns ▼

▲ purple-colored inflorescences

Barnyardgrass:

• warm-season, annual grass
• flattened, sometimes reddish stem bases; grows 1-4’ tall
• panicle is slightly branched, with thick flower spikelets, sometimes with long awns
• seedheads hang from one side of panicle branch; inflorescence appears semi- “bur-like"
• inflorescence often reddish brown, but may be golden to all green to almost black
• prefers moist, fertile soils
• major weed problem in rice fields, seed is similar to rice in shape
• occurs as weeds in wetter soils of other major agronomic crops as well
• junglerice:
  • similar to barnyardgrass
  • has smaller, purplish, short-awned inflorescences, usually with fewer branches than barnyardgrass
  • more stems, more spreading growth habit than barnyardgrass
  • has purplish markings on leaves
  • common in southern U.S. crops

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