Crowsfoot Grass Weed (Eleusine indica)
Common Names
Bull Grass, Dog Grass, Goose Grass, Goose Foot, Iron Grass
Description
Crowsfoot Grass is a fast-growing, short-lived tufted grass with spreading or semi-upright stems, reaching up to 60 cm tall. Its narrow, mostly hairless leaves (3-35 cm long, 3-8 mm wide) have keeled sheaths and a small membranous ligule at the base. The seed heads have 1-15 finger-like spikes (3.5-15.5 cm long) radiating from a central point, each densely packed with small flower spikelets.
Reproduction & Spread
This weed reproduces by seed, which spreads via water, animals, contaminated soil, and agricultural activities.
Similar Species
Crowsfoot Grass can be mistaken for other grasses with similar seed heads:
- Summer Grass (Digitaria ciliaris) – finer seed heads with slender branches, spikelets drop entirely.
- Green Couch (Cynodon dactylon) – finer seed heads, spreads via runners.
- Rhodes Grass (Chloris gayana) – taller (up to 1.2 m), brownish-green seed heads.