Description

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is a very troublesome grassy weed in athletic fields, golf greens, tees and fairways, and in other turfgrasses that are mowed short. It germinates when soil temperatures reach 60 to 65°F, and requires moisture and light for germination. Goosegrass has a prostrate growth habit, and is often white in the center with a wagon-wheel like appearance. Unlike crabgrass, it does not root at the nodes, but grows well in compacted soils. It competes very successfully with warm-season and cool-season turfgrasses during summer months and is most competitive in thin, open turfs and turfs subject to intense traffic or use.

Cultural Control

Goosegrass is most competitive in thin, open turfs and turfs subject to intense traffic or use. Close mowing and frequent watering enhance goosegrass competition. It is a very troublesome weed in athletic fields, golf greens, tees and fairways and other turfgrasses that are mowed short. Goosegrass germinates when soil temperatures reach 60°F, which is usually at least two weeks later than crabgrass. It competes very successfully with warm-season and cool-season turfgrasses during summer months. A severe goosegrass infestation may indicate the need for aerification to alleviate compaction.

Species Data

• SEEDHEAD / FLOWER
  • raceme; 2-6 spikes at the top of stem
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7
• VERNATION TYPE
  • folded
• LIGULE TYPE
  • membranous; 0.02 - 0.04 inches (0.6 - 1 mm) long, collar-like, hairy on back, edges sometimes with short hairs
    Figure 8, Figure 9
• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • summer annual weed
• AURICLE TYPE
  • absent
• LEAF BLADE TIP SHAPE
  • blunt; sparse long hairs near base above, smooth and sharply creased below, edges may have hairs
    Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12
• LEAF BLADE WIDTH
  • 0.2 - 0.4 inches (5 - 10 mm) wide
• STOLON PRESENCE
  • absent
• RHIZOME PRESENCE
  • absent
• COLLAR TYPE
  • continuous; crooked fine hairs on edges
    Figure 13, Figure 14, Figure 15
• SHEATH MARGIN
  • split with overlapping margins; sheath is hairy at top, edges may have hairs
    ​Figure 16, Figure 17, Figure 18
• SHEATH TYPE
  • flattened