WITCH GRASS— BARNYARD GRASS 11 



Witch Grass (Panicum capUlare L.) 



Other common names. — Old witch grass, tickle grass, tumble 

 grass, tumbleweed, fool hay, and panic grass. 



Description. — Witch grass is an annual which matures its seeds 

 any time between July and September. The plant is more or less 

 spreading in its habit of growth and when it is young the leaves are 

 extremely hairy. This grass is easily recognized by the fine, thread- 

 like branches of the much-branched head. Very often the whole plant 

 is nearly purple in color. Witch grass is found quite commonly 

 throughout the State in cultivated fields and along roadsides. It pre- 

 fers dry, sandy soil. The leaves of the plant are from six to twelve 

 inches long, very hairy, and often purple in color. The flowers are 

 very inconspicuous and are borne on the end of a rather stiff, slender 

 stem. These branches are grouped into a bunch which has a plume- 

 like appearance when the seeds are ready for distribution. The plant 

 is very often called tumbleweed because it easily breaks from the 

 ground at maturity and is carried around by the wind, scattering 

 its seeds. The plant is propagated by small, oblong, highly polished 

 seeds which are often concealed in purple coverings. Seeds of witch 

 grass occur very often among the seeds of the different clovers and 

 in lawn and other grass-seed mixtures. 



Eradication. — Do not sow grass seed containing seeds of witch 

 grass. Destroy stray plants as soon as they are discovered and pre- 

 vent all plants from going to seed whenever possible. This weed 

 yields readily to thorough cultivation. 



Barnyard Grass (Panicum crns-galli L.) 



Other common names. — Barn grass, cockspur grass, cocksfoot 

 grass, water grass, and loose panic grass. 



Description. — Barnyard grass was introduced from Europe and 

 now grows in nearly every part of the State. It is an annual plant 

 with a large number of leafy, flattened stems, branching or spread- 

 ing from the base. Barnyard grass is closely related to the millets 

 and is said to be quite valuable for forage. The plant is quite vari- 

 able in size and shape as well as in color. Very often the heads are 

 of a deep purplish hue but they may also be green in color. The 

 stems are rather succulent and the growth of this grass is very rapid 

 in the late summer. The leaves are generally smooth, sometimes 

 slightly hairy with a rough margin. The flowers are very small and 

 are crowded closely together in the much-branched head. The seeds 

 are oval, generally yellowish gray but often brown in color. They 



