Echinochloa crus-galli

Echinochloa crus-galli is a species of wild grass originating from tropical Asia that was formerly classified as a panicum grass. It is commonly known as cockspur (or cockspur grass), barnyard millet, water grass, common barnyard grass, or simply barnyard grass (which may refer to any species of the genus Echinochloa). This plant can grow to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and has long, flat leaves which are often purplish at the base. Most stems are upright, but some will spread out over the ground. Stems are flattened at the base. The seed heads are a distinctive feature, often purplish, with large millet-like seeds in crowded spikelets. Considered one of the world's worst weeds, it reduces crop yields and causes forage crops to fail by removing up to 80% of the available soil nitrogen. It acts as a host for several mosaic virus diseases. Heavy infestations can interfere with mechanical harvesting. Individual plants can produce up to 40,000 seeds per year. Water, birds, insects, machinery, and animal feet disperse it, but contaminated seed is probably the most common dispersal method.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The seed is cooked and used as a millet — it can be prepared whole or ground into flour for use in porridges, macaroni, dumplings, and similar dishes. The seed has a good flavour overall but is somewhat bitter, and is fairly easy to harvest despite being rather small. Young shoots, stem tips, and the heart of the culm can be eaten raw or cooked. A nutritional analysis of the leaves (dry weight) per 100g shows: protein 7.4g, fat 2.9g, carbohydrate 81.1g, fibre 31.3g, ash 8.6g. The roasted seed can also be used as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

Reported to be preventative and tonic, barnyard grass is a folk remedy for carbuncles, haemorrhages, sores, spleen trouble, cancer, and wounds. The shoots and/or roots are applied as a styptic to wounds. The plant acts as a tonic on the spleen.

Known Hazards

This grass has been reported to accumulate levels of nitrate in its tissues high enough to be toxic to farm animals. This problem is most likely to occur when plants are fed with inorganic fertilizers.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Sow seed in early spring in a greenhouse, barely covering it. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out into permanent positions in early summer. A direct sowing in late spring may also succeed, but is unlikely to ripen a seed crop in cool, wet summers.

Other Uses

The plant is sometimes used, particularly in Egypt, for the reclamation of saline and alkaline areas.

Other Information

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

Notes

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.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (63)

• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 188
• Bandyopadhyay, S. et al, 2009, Wild edible plants of Koch Bihar district, West Bengal. Natural Products Radiance 8(1) 64-72
• Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 526
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 903

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