Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Synonyms Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Echinochloa colona (L.) Link

Synonyms

Echinochloa colonum (L.) Link
Panicum colonum L.

Family

Gramineae (South Australia)
Poaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)

Common Names

awnless barnyard grass, awnless barnyardgrass, barnyard grass, bird's rice, corn panic grass, Deccan grass, jungle rice, jungle ricegrass, jungle-rice, junglerice, Kalahari watergrass, marsh grass, millet-rice, pigeon millet, river grass, shama millet, short millet, swamp grass, swampgrass

Origin

The origin of this species is obscure, and it is now widely naturalised throughout the tropical, sub-tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world.

Naturalised Distribution

A very widely distributed grass that is most common throughout the northern and eastern parts of Australia. It is generally considered to be naturalised in Australia, however some herbaria are unsure of its status or consider it to be native. It is widespread throughout Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and the northern and north-western parts (i.e. the Kimberley and Pilbara regions) of Western Australia. It is also present in south-western Western Australia, in many parts of Victoria, in the ACT, in south-eastern South Australia and on Christmas Island.

Notes

Awnless barnyard grass (Echinochloa colona) is a common weed of crops (particularly rice), gardens, roadsides, disturbed sites and waste areas in Australia. It also grows along waterways, on the margins of lakes and ponds, in swamps and wetlands, and in other damp habitats. It is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Queensland, the Northern Territory and Victoria.

In south-eastern Queensland awnless barnyard grass (Echinochloa colona) is ranked among the top 200 environmental weeds and has invaded wetter habitats, including endangered swamp tea tree (Melaleuca tamariscina subsp. irbyana) thickets. It is also a common weed of arid wetland areas in central Australia (i.e. in the Northern Territory and South Australia).