Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Panicum crus-galli L.

Common name(s): [more details]

Bikol: lagtom

Bontoc: sasablog

Chinese: bai

English: barnyard grass, barnyard millet, baronet grass, cocksfoot grass, cockshin grass, cockspur, cockspur grass, cockspur-panic, water grass, wild millet

French: bourgon, crête de coq, echinochloa pied-de-coq, ergot de coq, millard, panic pied-de-coq, pattes de poule, pied de coq

Ifugao: baobao

Japanese: ta-in-ubie

Manobo: dauana

Spanish: arrocillo, barbarroja, cola de caballo, hualcacho, jaraz fina, mijo japonés, pagarropa, panicello, pasto rayado, pata de gallo, pie de gallina, pierna o pata de gallo, zacate de agua

Tagalog: bayokibok, daua-daua

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Annuals, culms stout, tufted, ascending in upper part, (1.5-) 3-10 (-14) dm tall, geniculate and decumbent below, glabrous, leafy.  Sheaths glabrous; ligule absent; blades flat, 4-12 (-16) mm wide, margins scabrous, a few papillae near the collar, these sometimes with hairs.  Inflorescences paniculate, erect or nodding, 5-12 (20) racemosely arranged lateral branches; spikelets 2.8-3.5 mm long, somewhat turgid to laterally compressed, apex acuminate to awned; first glume broad, 1.2-1.6 mm long, clasping, 3-nerved, scaberulous, apex apiculate to caudate, sometimes with an awn up to 0.5 mm long, second glume 2.5-3.2 mm long, 5-nerved, the lateral nerves pectinate near the margins and scabrous toward base, apex acuminate or with an awn 0.7-1.5 mm long; first lemma awned, the awn 0.5-30 mm long, palea usually well-developed, second lemma indurate, plano-convex, 2.2-3 (-3.3) mm long, smooth and glossy, 5-9-nerved, apex abruptly acute, awned, the awn up to 0.5 mm long; palea similar in texture to lemma.  Caryopsis pale brown, suborbicular or ovoid, 1.4-2 mm long, 1.2-1.6 mm in diameter"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1535).

Description from GrassBase.

A closely related species, also invasive, is Echinochloa crus-pavonis.  It is often difficult to distinguish from E. crus-galli.  The rather soft, pinkish, or pale purple panicle with crowded spikelets with very long awns is characteristic of E. crus-pavonis (Holm et al., 1977; p. 32).

Habitat/ecology:  "The weed prefers wet soils and can continue to grow when partially submerged.  On occasion it has been described as a weed of swamps and aquatic places.  In drier soils it is not as tall and the yield of seeds and the numbers of panicles and tillers are reduced.  It is normally found only at low and medium altitudes.  It grows best in rich, moist soils with a high nitrogen content, but it can also thrive on sands and loamy soils" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 35).

In Hawai‘i, "naturalized in wet or seasonally wet sites such as ditches or stream beds, and in cultivated fields, 0-520 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1535). In Fiji, "occurring near sea level in rice fields, swampy places, and along roadsides" (Smith, 1979; pp. 341-342). In New Caledonia, "Peut-être d'introduction pré-européenne. Largement répandu en stations humides. Semble d'après les spécimens nombreux avoir été plus abondant au 19e siècle qu'à présent" (MacKee, 1994; p. 59).

Propagation:  Seed.  "Some seeds germinate immediately, although others remain viable for several years"  (Waterhouse, 1994; p. 62).

Native range:  "Common in many subtropical and temperate areas" (Smith, 1979; pp. 341-342). Origin obscure, likely tropical Asia (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced	Pickard, J. (1984) (p. 205)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Lord Howe Island	Lord Howe Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 22) "As elsewhere in the warm temperate and tropical regions of the world, this is a weed of cultivated land and open ground". Voucher cited: A.C. Beauglehole 5449 (CANB)
Australia (Pacific offshore islands) Norfolk Islands	Norfolk Island	introduced invasive	Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 12) "As elsewhere in the warm temperate and tropical regions of the world, this is a weed of cultivated land and open ground". Vouchers cited: W.R. Sykes NI 69 (CHR); W. Laing (CHR); E. Ralston 38 (CHR); E. Ralston 39 (CHR); a long awned variant, W. Laing (CHR); Nov. 1898, I. Robinson(NSW)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Uman Island		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Faraulep (Faraulap) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. hispidula
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Faraulep (Faraulap) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (p. 48) Var. austro-japonensis; voucher cited: Fosberg & Evans 47372 (US, BISH, CANB, L).
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. hispidula
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ifalik (Ifaluk) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (pp. 47-48) Var. hispidula; vouchers cited: Abbott & Bates 69 (US), Abbott & Bates 119 (US), Abbott & Bates 128 (US)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. austro-japonensis and var. hispidula
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Ulithi Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (pp. 47-48) Var. austro-japonensis; voucher cited: Fosberg & Wong 25500 (US); var. hispidula; voucher cited: Fosberg 46503 (US, BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Woleai Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. hispidula
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Woleai Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (pp. 47-48) Var. hispidula; vouchers cited: Evans 513 (US, BISH, POM, BRI), Fosberg 47026 (US, BISH)
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. hispidula
Federated States of Micronesia Yap Islands	Yap (Waqab) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (pp. 47-48) Var. hispidula; voucher cited: Wong 400 (US)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1979) (pp. 341-342) var. hispidula. Vouchers cited: DA 8632, DA 3974, DA 3562, DA 3577, DA 3579, DA 7522, DA 3096, DA 11234, Meebold 26533
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island	introduced invasive	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 335) Voucher cited: Grant 5363
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) subsp. hispidula (A.J. Retzius) M. Honda Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Raivavae (Raevavae) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & W.R. Sykes 11182 (PAP) Adventice
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rurutu Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6204 (PAP) Adventice
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1535) Voucher cited: Didrichsen s.n. (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Clayton, W. D. (1998) (p. 24) Voucher cited: Hosaka 1378 (BISH)
Japan (offshore islands) Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands	Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands		Kato, Hidetoshi (2007) Also var. formosensis Ohwi
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 40) var. austro-japonensis
Kiribati Tungaru (Gilbert) Islands	Butaritari Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (p. 48) Var. austro-japonensis; voucher cited: Herbst & Allerton 2698 9US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 40) Var. austro-japonensis
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (p. 48) Var. austro-japonensis; voucher cited: Fosberg 39464 (US)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 5) On Pinlep Islet. Vouchers cited: Fosberg 39464 (US), Fosberg 41407 (US)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue en stations humides. Semble avoir été plus abondante au 19è siècle qu'à présent.
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Îles Ouvéa (Ouvea Atoll)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 59)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue en stations humides. Semble avoir été plus abondante au 19è siècle qu'à présent.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 59) Voucher cited: MacGillivray 33
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 380) Largement répandue en stations humides. Semble avoir été plus abondante au 19è siècle qu'à présent.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île des Pins (Isle of Pines)	introduced invasive abo. intro.	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 59)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (pp. 241-242) Voucher cited: CHR 156828
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 41) var. hispidula
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1982) (pp. 47-48) Var. hispidula; voucher cited: Takamatsu 1386 (US, BISH)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Henty, E. E. (1969) (p. 81) A weed of cultivation in the tropics; in New Guinea from sea level to 7,000 ft.
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 61)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands		Merrill, Elmer D. (1925) (p. 63) At low and medium altitudes, in open wet places, rice paddies, etc.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 70)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Johnston Atoll	Johnston Island	introduced invasive	Amerson, A. Binion, Jr./Shelton, Philip C. (1976) (p. 52)
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Midway Atoll	Midway Atoll	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Martz, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2002) (p. 22) Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 990620-1 (BISH)
Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna (Horne) Islands	Wallis and Futuna Islands	introduced	Waterhouse, D. F. (1997) (p. 61)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 133)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Damp weedy places, streamsides, rice fields. Throughout China.
China China	Hong Kong	native	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 333) In marshes, ditches and paddy fields.
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
North Korea North Korea	North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei	Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Edgar, E./Connor, H. (2000) (p. 546) "Waste land, cultivated land, often coastal and sometimes in swampy ground".
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	uncertain if introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 37) Weed of uncertain origin
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Taiwan Taiwan Island	Taiwan Island	introduced invasive	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Damp weedy places, streamsides, rice fields. Throughout China.
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	introduced invasive	Waterhouse, D. F. (1993) (pp. 65, 77)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Apparently introduced to Niue with pasture grass seed (Sykes, 1970; pp. 241-242). Not seen in recent surveys.

Control: 

Biological:  Waterhouse (1994, pp. 63-66) lists natural enemies of the species.