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Goosegrass

How to identify Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

Goosegrass, also known as Crowfoot grass, Indian goosegrass

Goosegrass is characterized by its summer annual growth cycle and distinct, prostrate seedlings that transition into upright flowering stems. This grass features a notable flattened, whitish or silvery base that provides a clue to its identity. The vegetative shoots are known to sprawl initially but will develop vertical culms, potentially reaching heights that overshadow smaller vegetation in proximity. The growth pattern and physical form of goosegrass are easily recognizable and serve as key identifiers for this species.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Annual, Biennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Grass

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Goosegrass

1

Distinct silver or whitish base of stem

2

Spike inflorescences with finger-like spikes and reduced, petal-less flowers

3

Tiny, ellipsoid caryopsis fruit with wrinkled texture and black color

4

Leaves keeled, hull-shaped, with white or silver base and sparsely ciliate margins

5

Green stem, slightly flattened, glabrous, and sheathed flowering stems

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Detailed Traits of Goosegrass

Leaf Features

The leaves of goosegrass are medium to dark green, with blades up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and 1/4 inch (6 mm) wide. They are mostly glabrous, keeled, and hull-shaped at their tips, with a distinct white or silver base. The leaf margins are sparsely ciliate, featuring long, crooked hairs. Leaves tend to grow in a rosette with stems radiating outward in an alternate arrangement (one leaf per point along the stem). The base wraps smoothly around the stem.

Leaf Shape

Linear

Goosegrass Leaf Shape image
Leaf Apex

Obtuse ,
Acute

Leaf Texture

Herbaceous

Leaf Margin

Entire

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Flower Features

The flowers of goosegrass are organized in spike inflorescences, typically consisting of 2-6 spikes measuring 1.5-6 inches (4-15 cm) in length. The spikes form finger-like structures with one often slightly lower than the others on the stem. Each spike has numerous spikelets, each containing 3-15 florets. These florets lack petals and sepals, presenting as reduced flowers. The arrangement is crucial for identification. The blooming period of goosegrass is primarily observed in the warmer months.

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Stem Features

The stem of goosegrass is green, smooth, and slightly flattened, giving it a unique appearance. It is glabrous, meaning it lacks hair, and can be either erect or prostrate along the ground. The culms, or flowering stems, are somewhat sheathed and vary in thickness, typically measuring up to 0.2 inches (5 mm) in diameter. These stems are also notable for their flattened shape, which distinguishes them from rounder-stemmed grasses.

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Fruit Features

The mature fruit of goosegrass are diminutive grains, specifically crafted by nature to facilitate propagation. Each fruit, referred to as a caryopsis, encapsulates a single seed with an ellipsoid shape, roughly 0.06 - 0.08 inches (1.5 - 2 mm) in length. The seed coat displays a distinctive, wrinkled texture, adding to the tactile uniqueness of these minute kernels. Clothed in a thin, membranous husk, the seeds possess a deep black hue, contributing to their visual recognition against the backdrop of the soil they fall upon.

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Key Facts About Goosegrass

Attributes of Goosegrass
Lifespan
Annual, Biennial
Plant Type
Grass
Plant Height
10 cm to 90 cm
Flower Color
White
Yellow
Green
Fruit Color
Green
Stem Color
Green
White
Leaf type
Deciduous
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Scientific Classification of Goosegrass

Family
Grass
Icon allow
Species
Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)
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Distribution Map of Goosegrass

Goosegrass is broadly distributed, natively flourishing across Africa, Asia, and parts of the Middle East. Its reach extends through temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions. Introduction to regions like Europe, the Americas, and Oceania has seen it establish in various ecosystems. Although goosegrass is sometimes thought to be invasive in certain areas, particularly where it competes with native species in North and South America, Europe, and Oceania, it may have an impact on local ecosystems.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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