Species Overview

Native to: Africa and tropical Asia

Eleusine indica is a non-native grass widely distributed across the United States and commonly found in disturbed sites throughout Florida. Considered one of the most common agricultural and environmental weeds in tropical and subtropical regions of the world it is listed as invasive in several countries in Europe, Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean and on many islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Species Characteristics

Family: Poaceae

Habit: Annual grass

Leaves: Blades are flat or folded and can grow 2–8 inches long by 1/13–1/3-inch wide. They are mostly hairless, except occasional sparse long hairs on the upper surface near the base. The ligule is membranous and uneven. Leaf sheaths are flattened, smooth to sparsely hairy toward the ligule, and whitish at the base.

Seeds: Seedhead consists of 2–13 fingerlike spikes, which can be 2–6 inches long and 1/10–1/3-inch wide at the top of stems. Usually one spike is below the others, which are bunched toward the tip. On the underside of each spike, there are two rows of 3–6 seeds, which are brown to black and 1/13-inch long.

Roots: fibrous root system, never roots at the nodes.

Distribution in Florida: Statewide

Impacts

A single plant may produce more than 50,000 small seeds, which can be easily dispersed by wind and water, attached to animal fur and machinery and as a contaminant in soil. It has been documented to reduce agricultural yields in certain crops.

Clean all equipment when leaving infested areas.

Solarization or sheet mulching can reduce seed germination rates. Hand pulling can be effective with small patches.

Can set seed even when closely mowed.

None known.

There are several preemergence and postemergence herbicides with activity on goosegrass. Consult your local UF IFAS Extension Office for management recommendations.