Goosegrass Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
Family: Poaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Native status: Introduced
Habitat: Turf, waste areas. Often found in compacted soils.
General description: Prostrate growth habit in closely mown turf, in other areas can be upright. Leaves folded in bud resulting in flat stems. Seedheads consist of 2-6 spikes with two rows of spikelets; individual spikes coarser than those of crabgrass.
Key ID traits: Membranous ligule; flat stems. Tillers radiate outward parallel to soil surface. Leaf sheaths at crown are white to silver in color.
Similar species: Growth habit and seedheads are similar to crabgrass, but flat stems and larger inflorescences of goosegrass simplify identification.
Miscellaneous: Also called silver crabgrass due to light color of the crown area. Goosegrass is a bigger problem in the southern U.S. than Iowa.
Meaghan Anderson Field Agronomist in Central Iowa
Meaghan Anderson is a field agronomist in central Iowa and an extension field specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Educational programming is available for farmers, agribusinesses, pesticide applicators, certified crop advisors, and other individuals interested in...