Yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila) is a bright green clumping annual or perennial weed common in turf and pasture areas. The seedhead can be distinguished from that of green foxtail because it is thicker, and has shorter bristles. Giant foxtail has the largest seedhead of the three and this seedhead is drooping. In addition, yellow foxtail has hairs on the leaf margins and ligule. Knotroot foxtail is a perennial weed that is very similar in appearance to yellow foxtail, but it has rhizomes whereas yellow foxtail does not.

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.

• SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
  • seedhead a coarse spike, several bristles on one seed
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4
• VERNATION TYPE
  • leaves rolled in the bud
• LIGULE TYPE
  • dense fringe of hairs, 0.04 inches (1 mm) long
    Figure 5, Figure 6
• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • summer annual or perennial weed
• AURICLE TYPE
  • absent
• LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
  • sharp-pointed; long hairs on upper surface
• LEAF BLADE WIDTH
  • up to 0.47 inches (12 mm) wide
• STOLON PRESENCE
  • absent
• RHIZOME PRESENCE
  • absent
• COLLAR TYPE
  • continuous
    Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10
• SHEATH MARGIN
  • split with overlapping margins; edges not hairy
    Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13
• SHEATH TYPE
  • flattened; sharply creased
    Figure 14

Figure 1. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 1. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 2. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 2. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 3. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 3. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 4. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 4. Yellow Foxtail seedhead.

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Figure 5. Yellow Foxtail ligule.

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Figure 5. Yellow Foxtail ligule.

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Figure 6. Yellow Foxtail ligule.

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Figure 6. Yellow Foxtail ligule.

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Figure 7. Yellow Foxtail auricle.

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Figure 7. Yellow Foxtail auricle.

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Figure 8. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 8. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 9. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 9. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 10. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 10. Yellow Foxtail collar.

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Figure 11. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 11. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 12. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 12. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 13. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 13. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 14. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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Figure 14. Yellow Foxtail sheath.

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