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:
o similar to barnyardgrass
o has smaller, purplish, short-awned inflorescences, usually with fewer branches than barnyardgrass
o more stems, more spreading growth habit than barnyardgrass
o has purplish markings on leaves
o common in southern U.S. crops