Weedy annual probably introduced from Africa. The reclining, leaning or erect stems are 4-30 inches long and often white or silvery at the base. Leaves are up to 1/4 inch wide and 2-6 inches long. At the tip of the stem are 1-10 spreading, spikelike, whorled branches often with one or two additional ones coming off below the whorl (A). Branches are from 1 1/2 – 3 inches long with flattened stems bearing 2 crowded rows of spikelets along one side (D,E).
Compacted soil along roadsides, parking lots and trails; waste areas, pastures and lawns. Goosegrass is common in the Gifford Road parking lot at Fontenelle Forest and uncommon in compacted soil along the edges of the Neale Woods parking lots. Flowering occurs from July to October.
Crabgrasses (Digitaria species) have similar spreading, whorled branches and may be confused with Goosegrass. However, Crabgrasses often root at the nodes and don t grow as a single, firmly rooted bunch like Goosegrass. Also, the branches of Crabgrass (F, left side) are thinner and the spikelets with their single fertile floret much smaller than the
Goosegrass spikelet (F, right), which has 2-9 florets.
Goosegrass is known by a variety of common names including Wiregrass, Silver Crabgrass and Crowsfoot Grass.
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