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goosegrass
Scientific Name: Acrachne racemosa
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Goosegrass: A Multifaceted Plant
The term "Goosegrass" is a common name applied to various grasses, sedges, and annual herbs. The name likely originates from its use as a food source for geese or the resemblance of plant parts to a goose's foot.
Considerations for Pets
- Some varieties of Goosegrass, such as Galium aparine, are covered with small hooks that allow them to cling to surfaces. This could potentially cause irritation or discomfort if it attaches to animal fur.
Considerations for Children
- Galium aparine, also known as cleavers or sticky willy, is known for clinging to surfaces with its small hooks. It has been used as a plaything, with children sticking it to each other's clothes.
Scientific and Common Names
- Scientific Name: The text references two scientific names: Eleusine indica and Galium aparine.
- Common Names: Goosegrass, cleavers, clivers, catchweed, stickyweed, robin-run-the-hedge, sticky willy, sticky willow, velcro weed, grip grass, wiregrass, white crabgrass, bullgrass, Crow's foot grass, Goosefoot, Indian goose grass, Silver crabgrass, Yard-grass.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Family (for Galium aparine): Rubiaceae
- Synonyms (for Eleusine indica): Bullgrass, Crow's foot grass, Goosefoot, Indian goose grass, Silver crabgrass, Wire grass.
Distribution and Habitat
- Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is found throughout, except for non-irrigated desert regions. It is found year-round in southern Florida.
- Galium aparine is common throughout Europe and has become naturalized elsewhere. It grows luxuriantly about fields and waste places.
Ecological Role
- Goosegrass (Eleusine indica) is an annual weed commonly found in warm-season turf grasses. It is a troublesome grassy weed in athletic fields and golf courses. It readily seeds and spreads on the wind. Glyphosate-resistant biotypes have been identified.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Galium aparine is a herbaceous annual plant that clings onto almost everything it touches with a multitude of small hooks.
- Eleusine indica is described as having stems radiating outwards from a central distinctive white center. It forms a low-growing rosette with pronounced white-colored leaf sheaths.
Traditional Uses and Reported Properties
- Goosegrass (Galium aparine) has a history of medicinal use.
- It is known as a blood purifier and an essential ingredient of herbal detox mixes or spring cleansers.
- It is described as diuretic and alterative (stimulates lymphatic circulation) due to the presence of citric acid, coumarins, and tannins.
- It has been used as food.