Giant Foxtail

Giant Foxtail, Japanese Bristlegrass

(Setaria faberi Herrm.)

Poaceae (Grass Family)

▲ ▼ mature plants with drooping, spike inflorescences

▲ ▼ mature plants growing in corn crop-- some toward center-back of photo are over 5 feet tall

▲ ▼ spike often bends over from lower 1/3 of spike, and is soft, flexible

▲ inflorescence detail

▲ ▼ Ligule and collar region

Giant Foxtail:

tallest of the group, reaching 4-5' in cultivated, moist soils
has fine hair on upper side of leaves
has a long, drooping "foxtail" inflorescence; inflorescence may be up to 6" long
can produce up to 10,000 seeds per plant
has a moderate allelopathic effect on corn
one giant foxtail plant per foot of row can reduce soybean yields 13%
compare with bristly foxtail, green foxtail and yellow foxtail