Eleusine indica

Identification tip: Goose grass is a tough grass giving rise to the local name "bull grass". The flowering culms are flattened and keel like. Seedling identification: Ligule is membranous with a fringe of hairs. Stems are flattened, whitish green, almost parallel to ground in young plants. Individual leaf veins distinct. Long hairs present at base of leaf.

Complete germination occurred in 28-84 days when temperature was alternated between 77-104 F (25-40 C) (Toole and Toole 1940). The relationship between light and temperature is complicated and anyone using seed of this species in experiments would benefit from a review of the literature (see bibliography).

Poor livestock and wildlife values.

A weedy grass that is widely distributed in disturbed areas. A native of Eurasia it is now widely adventive in the warm parts of America (Correll and Johnston 1979). The Acadian French name for goosegrass is "pied poule", which literally means "hen's foot" (Holmes 1990).

Sandy fields, roadsides, lawns, waste ground, and pastures.