# barnyardgrass (*Echinochloa crus-galli*)

Barnyardgrass is a tall, green plant that grows in fields and gardens. It has long leaves and can spread quickly, making it a common sight in many places.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Fields and gardens

![barnyardgrass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Echinochloa_crus-galli01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Ce, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Echinochloa_crus-galli01.jpg)

## Appearance

The barnyardgrass has upright, flat green leaves and dense, branching seed heads that can often be tinged purple or brown. Its distinctive rough, spiky awns on the seeds help distinguish it from similar grasses, lacking the ligule found on many other grasses.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Echinochloa

## Interesting facts

- Barnyardgrass can grow in rice paddies, often mimicking young rice plants to hide!
- Barnyardgrass seeds were once gathered and eaten by ancient people like a wild grain!
- It can produce over 40,000 seeds from just one plant in a single growing season!
- Its name comes from its spiky seeds, which resemble a rooster's spur or tail!

## Special abilities

- **Speedy Sprouter:** Barnyardgrass can grow extremely fast, quickly outcompeting other plants for sunlight and nutrients in various environments.
- **Seed Survivor:** Barnyardgrass has seeds that can stay dormant in the soil for years, waiting for perfect conditions to germinate and grow.
- **Wetland Warrior:** Barnyardgrass can thrive in flooded fields and wetlands, adapting to environments where many other plants struggle to survive.
- **Solar Supercharger:** Barnyardgrass uses C4 photosynthesis, an efficient process that helps it grow rapidly in hot, sunny conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Eats its abundant seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Feeds on its nutritious seeds.
- **Eaten by:** [European Rabbit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-rabbit) (*Oryctolagus cuniculus*) — Graze on young shoots and leaves.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always be careful when walking through tall grass, as you might find bugs or other plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify barnyardgrass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is barnyardgrass?

30-150 cm

### How wide does barnyardgrass spread?

30-60 cm

### When does barnyardgrass bloom?

Summer

### Is barnyardgrass edible?

Yes

### Is barnyardgrass toxic?

None

### What is barnyardgrass's lifecycle?

Annual

### How is barnyardgrass pollinated?

Wind

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Barnyardgrass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/barnyardgrass)