Echinochloa crus-galli

• Botanical Name : Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.

• Echinochloa is derived from echinus meaning hedge-hog and chloa means grass. Crus means a leg, galli means of a cock.

• Synonyms : Panicum crus-galli L.
• Common Name : Adbau Samo, Barnyard Grass, Jungle Rice, Cock's Foot, Prickly Grass
• Plant Family : Poaceae (Gramineae)

• According to the Rules of ICBN the names of the families should end in -aceae. Thus the new name for the family Gramineae became Poaceae. However, the name Gramineae is also exempted and conserved under ''NominaConservanda' because of their constant use for a long time.

• Plant Form : Grasses
• Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Echinochloa crus-galli Plant :

• Habit : Tufted annual with stems stout or slender, erect or decumbent below, simple or branched.
• Leaves : Flat, glabrous or hairy, ligule 0.
• Inflorescence : Raceme usually inclined or drooping. Spikes sessile or sub-sessile, upper gradually shorter, erect,erecto-patent or rarely decurved.
• Flowers : Spikeletsdensely packed in 3-5 raws, turgid; glume first not awned, second and third subequal, usually 5-nerved, awn of third sometimes 3.7 cm long, fourth from orbicular to broadly oblong.
• Flowering and Fruiting Time : August-November
• Significance :
  • The grass has been used for the reclamation of saline and alkaline areas.
  • The grains are used as food in times of scarcity.
  • They are also reported to be used for adulterating fennel.
  • The plant is used for diseases of the spleen and for checking haemorrhage.