Eustachys caribaea (Spreng.) Herter

Chikenfoot Grass

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Chikenfoot Grass is an introduced perennial in the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In the United States it has been collected from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Chickenfoot Grass can be found in the southeastern third of Alabama, where it occurs on roadsides and in disturbed areas. It is a clump forming warm season grass from a short rhizome. Culms are erect, 1-3 feet in height, glabrous, with hollow internodes. It often roots at the lower nodes. The leaf sheaths are keeled, strongly compressed, and arranged in two vertical rows. Leaves are flat or conduplicate (folded lengthwise), linear, with entire margins and obtuse or mucronate apices. Flowers are produced in terminal panicles of 3-10 erect or divergent, digitate branches. The lowest lemma in each spikelet is mucronate and tan to reddish-brown in color. It also has a pubescent keel. The fruit is a grain.—A. Diamond

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Not Native

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