Cockspur-grasses
What are they?
Rather tall, coarse grasses with broad leaf blades and usually long awns on the flowers.
Where are they found?
Found in a variety of habitats with some species being saltmarsh specialists and others being weeds of cultivation.
Identification
Generally quite distinctive grasses with relatively broad leaves and flower heads consisting of a number of stout side arms. Florets usually with awns which are often quite long and bristly. For species recognition, see the individual species comments.
Common Cockspur-grass Echinochloa crusgalli
(Barnyardgrass) An annual, stout grass of all kinds of disturbed and waste ground. Often germinates from spilt bird seed in back yards. Flowers July to October. A stout grass with rather tough, bristly flower heads. Leaves have pale stripe along mid-vein.
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Saltmarsh Cockspur-grass Echinochloa walteri
(Coast Cockspur-grass) A common species of brackish water areas and the back edges of saltmarsh. Flowers August to September. A showy species, often found along the edge of reebeds, where its rust-tinged flower spikes put on an attractive show.
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