Barnyard grass, Barnyard millet
Echinochloa crus-galli

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

An annual millet grass It grows 1-1.5 m tall. It can be erect or lean over. The leaves are long and narrow and flat. They are about 35 cm long and 1 cm wide. The leaves do not have hairs except for a few hairs at the base. The flower arrangement is open and up to 25 cm long by 8 cm wide. The flower arrangement is pinkish. There are 3 or 4 irregular rows. The lower flower stalks are 10 cm long and they get shorter higher up. The spikelets are 2-4.5 mm long. It does not have a ligule or row of hairs where the leaf sheath joins the stem. One plant can produce 7000 seed.

There are about 35 Echinochloa species. They grow in tropical to warm temperate regions. It is a weed problem in rice. It is probably the wild form from which Japanese millet developed. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places and paddy fields. It grows in wetlands. It also grows in temperate places. Seed germinate most easily at 20°C. It grows in water-logged soils which are medium to heavy. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 800 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andorra, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Central America, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Europe, France, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, Laos, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable. The seeds can be boiled and eaten. They can also be popped like corn. They can be ground into flour and used to make bread, cakes and porridge. They are used for macaroni and dumplings. They can be steamed and made in porridge. Roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.

It is cultivated as a cereal in China, Korea and Japan. The seeds are a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, cereal, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Adban samo, Ahibary, Bai, Banti, Barasanwak, Bharti, Bovar, Burashama, Capin arroz, Chalakini, Cockspur grass, Dhand, Dhera, Dul, God, Jalsamoka, Jarotha, Myet-cho, Myet-thi, Navadna kostreba, Oothupul, Osu honug, Pacad, Pedda wundu, Sama, Samak, Samaw, Sanwak, Sarvank, Sawan, Sema, Smau bak'kba, Tan, Ziro

Synonyms

Echinochloa crus-galli var. breviseta (Doell.) Neilr.; Echinochloa crus-galli var. longiseta (Doell.) Neilr.; Echinochloa crus-galli var. mitis (Pursh) Peterm.; Echinochloa crus-galli var. submutica Neilr.; Echinochloa glabrescens Munro ex Eggel.; Echinochloa hispidula (Retz.) Nees ex Royle; Panicum crus-galli Linn.; Panicum crus-galli var. brevisetum Doell.; Panicum crus-galli var. longisetum Doell.; Panicum grossum Salisb.; Panicum hispidulum Retz.;