Is it a native?

American Crows-foot Grass - introduced (*Eleusine tristachya)

Home
Main menu
Scientific name index
Common name index
Glossary
Other grasses
The grass plant

crows-foot grass

Native to tropical Africa. It was an early introduction into South America. Annual or perennial. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

It was an uncommon weed that appears to be increasing in abundance in Castlemaine streets.

Identification

It is a distinctive grass, with short stout radiating arms, growing usually to about 20cm or less.

Eleusine: Eleusis was the earthly home of Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture; tristachya: bearing three spikes or clusters of flowers, referring to the radiating arms.

1,2, The close-set florets give a heavy appearance. Castlemaine. grass