Barnyard Grass - introduced (*Echinchloa crus-galli)

Native Europe. Annual. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Moderately common. It is usually in damp places e.g. along roadside drains.

Identification:

• The flowers are on stiff arms rising from along the stem
• the spikelets have two lemmas, the lower lemma is sterile or male, and the upper is bisexual
• the second lemma may be awned or unawned
• the 2nd fertile lemma may be awnless or long-awned
• the leaves are flat
• the ligule is absent.

There is much variation in the appearance of Barnyard Grass, depending on the presence or absence of awns.

echinos: hedgehog; chloe: grass (Greek), referring to the bristly appearance of some species; crus: somewhat leg-shaped; galli: coming from France.

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