Indian crowfoot grass

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• India goosegrass
• crowsfoot grass
• goosegrass
• silver crabgrass
• Yard-Grass
• Dutch Grass
• crabgrass
• crowfoot grass
• wire grass
• yard grass
• Crow's Foot
• Indian Goose Grass
• Indian Yard-grass
• Rapoko Grass

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cynodon indicus
• Eleusine pectinata
• Eleusine marginata
• Eleusine macrosperma
• Cynosurus indicus
• Eleusine indica var. monostachys
• Eleusine gonantha
• Cynosurus pectinatus
• Eleusine gouinii
• Eleusine polydactyla
• Eleusine glabra
• Eleusine inaequalis
• Juncus loureiroana
• Eleusine indica var. major
• Eleusine indica var. monostachya
• Eleusine japonica
• Eleusine scabra
• Eleusine rigidifolia
• Leptochloa pectinata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Poales and the family Poaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Eleusine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific presence across various regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution can be observed within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found inhabiting the landscapes of Austria. It also maintains a presence throughout the territories of Germany and Hungary. Finally, the plant extends its range across the Central European region of Czechia-Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eleusine indica is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse altitudinal gradients and disturbed environments. This species thrives across a broad elevational range, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3000 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL. It is commonly found colonizing anthropogenically disturbed sites, specifically frequenting habitats such as roadsides, where it can establish itself effectively in compacted or frequently traversed soils.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

roadsides

Genetics

The genetics of Eleusine indica are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that reflects its evolutionary adaptability. The species exhibits varying chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 18, 36, and 54, which indicates a capacity for polyploidization within its genome. Despite this range of total counts, the plant is fundamentally identified at a diploid ploidy level of 2, suggesting that its genetic structure is built upon a base set of chromosomes that can undergo doubling to facilitate diverse evolutionary pathways.

Chromosome number :

18,36,54

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Eleusine indica is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire developmental sequence from germination to seed production within a single growing season. In terms of its biological structure and survival strategy, the plant is classified as a therophyte, relying on seeds to endure unfavorable environmental conditions. Furthermore, its growth habit is defined as a hemicryptophyte, as its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, allowing it to persist through seasonal changes before emerging to complete its rapid reproductive cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Eleusine indica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody, graminoid herb. This plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than as a parasite or an epiphyte. It exhibits a self-supporting growth habit and does not function as a climber, such as a vine or liana. The shoots demonstrate an ascending orientation, and the plant typically reaches a height ranging from 0 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

graminoid

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eleusine indica is characterized by a highly efficient C4 photosynthetic pathway, which facilitates robust growth in various environmental conditions. The plant features non-succulent, non-carnivorous foliage that exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 30 cm. The leaves are typically narrow, possessing a mean width of 0.5 cm, though widths can vary from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 1 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 2.8825 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 242 cm²/g, reflecting its structural leaf density. Notably, Eleusine indica does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrient availability to support its physiological processes.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

30 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

2.8825 cm²

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C4

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

242 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eleusine indica is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate the plant's reproductive cycle. The flowering process typically begins in July and continues through December, featuring violet-colored flowers arranged in a spike inflorescence that ranges in length from 0.035 m to 0.15 m. Individual flowers are relatively small, with lengths spanning between 0.3 cm and 0.35 cm. The plant relies on abiotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing wind to transfer pollen. Following successful pollination, the plant produces indehiscent, dry fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are quite small, with a mean length of 0.14 cm (ranging from 0.1 cm to 0.2 cm), a mean width of 0.0875 cm (ranging from 0.08 cm to 0.095 cm), and a mean height of 0.0875 cm (ranging from 0.095 cm to 0.095 cm). Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The resulting seeds are minute, possessing a mean length of 1.4 mm, a mean width of 0.9 mm, and a mean volume of 0.4 mm³. The seed mass varies slightly, with a mean of approximately 0.000416 g and a maximum of 0.00071 g. Dispersal is achieved through a combination of unspecialized and zoochorous syndromes, allowing the seeds to spread effectively. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species, and self-fertilization is also noted as absent, emphasizing the importance of its sexual mechanisms.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

0.35 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit height max:

0.095 cm

Fruit height mean:

0.0875 cm

Fruit length max:

0.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.14 cm

Fruit length min:

0.1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.095 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.0875 cm

Fruit width min:

0.08 cm

Inflorescence :

spike

Inflorescence length max:

0.15 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.035 m

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

1.4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00071 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000416354333333333 g

Seed mass min:

2e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.4 mm³

Seed width mean:

0.9 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eleusine indica has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. PloS one

Chemicals

Eleusine indica has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Al, CU, FE, Lutein, MG.

Al

1. BioMed research international

CU

1. BioMed research international

FE

1. BioMed research international

Lutein

1. Journal of pharmaceutics

MG

1. BioMed research international

MN

1. BioMed research international

NI

1. BioMed research international

Polyphenol

1. TheScientificWorldJournal

SE

1. BioMed research international

STIGMASTEROL

1. Journal of pharmaceutics

Activities

Eleusine indica has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Galactagogue.

Antioxidant

1. PloS one

Diuretic

1. Journal of pharmaceutics

Febrifuge

1. Journal of pharmaceutics

Galactagogue

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Medicinal Uses

Eleusine indica has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colitis, cough, diuretic, diuretics, fever.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations