Description
Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is an upright summer annual weed of turfgrass. It is found in moist, disturbed sites, marshes, and wet turf areas. Barnyardgrass can most easily be distinguished from other grasses by its seedhead, and the fact that it has no ligule.
Cultural Control
These grasses occur infrequently in North Carolina in highly maintained turf but can be common in utility turf, such as along roadsides. Maintaining a dense, healthy turf year round by proper mowing and fertilization helps prevent encroachment and weed establishment.
Species Data
- SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
- VERNATION TYPE
- LIGULE TYPE
- absent
Figure 8
- absent
- GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
- summer annual weed
- AURICLE TYPE
- LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
- sharp-pointed; edges rough, blades all in same plane
Figure 11
- sharp-pointed; edges rough, blades all in same plane
- LEAF BLADE WIDTH
- 0.4 - 0.8 inches (10 - 20 mm) wide
- STOLON PRESENCE
- absent
- RHIZOME PRESENCE
- absent
- COLLAR TYPE
- continuous; may have hair on collar, white band on collar
Figure 12, Figure 13
- continuous; may have hair on collar, white band on collar
- SHEATH MARGIN
- split with overlapping margins
Figure 14, Figure 15
- split with overlapping margins
- SHEATH TYPE
Figure 1. Barnyardgrass seedhead.
Figure 2. Barnyardgrass seedhead.
Figure 3. Barnyardgrass seedhead.
Figure 4. Barnyardgrass vernation.
Figure 5. Barnyardgrass vernation.
Figure 6. Barnyardgrass vernation.
Figure 7. Barnyardgrass vernation.
Figure 8. Barnyardgrass ligule.
Figure 9. Barnyardgrass auricle.
Figure 10. Barnyardgrass auricle.
Figure 11. Barnyardgrass leaf blade tip shape.
Figure 12. Barnyardgrass collar.
Figure 13. Barnyardgrass collar.
Figure 14. Barnyardgrass sheath.
Figure 15. Barnyardgrass sheath.
Figure 16. Barnyardgrass sheath.
Figure 17. Barnyardgrass sheath.
Publication date: Nov. 7, 2017
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