Goosegrass - Eleusine indica (Taxonomy, Characteristics, Invasive, Images, Control)

Goosegrass

Also known as: Crowfoot grass, Indian goosegrass

When there is a famine or a lack of food, the seeds of goosegrass are eaten. This agricultural weed is utilized for cultivated crops, animal feed, and golf courses. It is classified as an environmental weed in various nations. Some Asian countries employ parts of this plant as herbal medicine.

Scientific classification

Species

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica)

Grasses, sedges and allies

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Weeds

Weed or not

Annual, Biennial

Lifespan

Grass

Plant Type

Summer, Early fall

Bloom Time

Summer, Fall

Harvest Time

10 cm to 90 cm

Plant Height

5 cm to 8 cm

Spread

White

Leaf Color

2.5 cm

Flower Size

Green

Fruit Color

White, Yellow, Green

Flower Color

Green, White

Stem Color

Winter dormancy

Dormancy

Deciduous

Leaf type

Images of Goosegrass

Distribution of Goosegrass

Distribution Map

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

Introduced

No species reported

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Habitat

Roadsides, waste places

Hemisphere Trend Curve

Northern

Sorthern

Culture

Environmental Protection Value

Goose grass can be used as a good ground cover plant for soil and water conservation.

Economic Value

The entire plant can be used as feed.

Garden Use

It often grows in barren land and beside roads.

Symbolism

Perseverance, and secret love

Interesting Facts

Goosegrass is a humble and ordinary wild vegetable. Many people have never even noticed it. It grows in weeds and farmland. It permeates into your life like invisible love does around you.

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Weed Control

Goosegrass is native to Africa. This plant can grow in a range of soil types in USDA zones 8 to 11. It has been recorded as invasive in over a hundred countries, including France, Australia, Mexico, and the United States of America. Goosegrass is a weed that grows quickly and seeds aggressively; as such, it negatively impacts the output of crops like maize, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. If necessary, goosegrass should be mechanically removed through hoeing when young. Chemical removal via herbicides can also help suppress the growth and proliferation of this invasive weed.

How to Control It

The best season for removal of goosegrass is in early spring or late winter, before the plant starts to germinate and produce seeds. Here are some organic methods to control this plant:

Hand pulling: Simply uproot the whole plant, including the roots, before it starts to seed. Make sure to dispose of them properly, so the seeds don’t get scattered.
Mulching: Lay down a thick layer of organic mulch to smother the goosegrass. This prevents sunlight from reaching it, thereby inhibiting its growth.
Vinegar spray: Make a mix of vinegar and water (in a 1:1 ratio). Spray this on the goosegrass, focusing on the leaf areas. This should kill off many of the plants.
Plant competitive species: Plant dense, competitive vegetation in your garden that will compete with goosegrass for resources, reducing its ability to spread.

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Quickly Identify Goosegrass

Distinct silver or whitish base of stem

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

Tiny, ellipsoid caryopsis fruit with wrinkled texture and black color

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

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

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Care Guide for Goosegrass

Twice per week

Water

Full sun

Sunlight

20 - 35 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Garden Soil

Soil Type

Water: Originating from tropical regions, goosegrass thrives in high humidity and regular rainfall. It prefers consistent moisture, requiring watering twice a week. As an outdoor plant, goosegrass shows resilience to varying watering patterns but flourishes in evenly moist soil during its active growth season.

Propagation: Goosegrass propagates effortlessly by sowing in spring. Germination and sprout development indicate successful growth. Ensure the soil remains consistently moist and provide sufficient spacing for optimal results.

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Images of Goosegrass

Distribution of Goosegrass

Culture

Weed Control

Quickly Identify Goosegrass

Care Guide for Goosegrass

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