Indian Goosegrass

Scientific Name: Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
Family: Poaceae

MORPHOLOGY

Habit and Size: Herbaceous, annual plant, 10-30 (60) cm tall.

Stems: Robust stem, prostrate-spreading, branched at the base.

Leaves: Linear leaves, 3-4 mm wide, hairy, cartilaginous on the margin; hairy ligule.

Flowers: Digitate inflorescence with 2-5 linear spikes of 5-12 cm, apical. The flowers are hermaphrodite spikelets with 3-6 flowers, 2-4 mm long, arranged in two rows. Blooms from June to August.

Fruits and Seeds: The fruit is a caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

An allochthonous species rapidly spreading throughout Italy, it grows in ruderal environments and uncultivated areas from sea level to 500 m.

Photo: Under a free license by Saxifraga, Rutger Barendse, Jasenka Topic.