Urochloa texana (Buckley) R.D. Webster

Texas Millet; Texas Signalgrass; Texas Liverseed Grass

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Texas Millet is an introduced warm season annual in the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Texan and northern Mexico. In Alabama it can be found in the southern half of the state. Texas Millet occurs on roadsides, in fields, along rail roads, on vacant lots, and in other disturbed, sandy sites. It is an erect or decumbent herbaceous annual with fibrous roots. The stems root at the nodes when in contact with the soil. The stems are green and pubescent. Leaf sheaths are pubescent with papillose-based hairs. The sheath margin is shortly ciliate, and the collars are pubescent. The leaves are alternate, lanceolate in outline, soft velvety pubescent on both surfaces, with ciliate margins basally. Flowers are produced in spike-like terminal panicles. The branches of the panicle are appressed/ascending. Spikelets are in 2-4 rows and appressed to the branches. The fruit is a grain. Texas Millet is sometimes planted for erosion control on roadsides and along newly constructed roads. It is also used as a wildlife food plot species for game birds such as dove and quail. It is a difficult weed to control in row crops as it is resistant to many commonly used herbicides. Texas Millet is available from many seed companies that sell grains or wildlife food species. It may be listed under older names such as Brachiaria texana (Buckley) S. T. Blake, or Panicum texanum Buckley.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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