The green (immature) fruit and foliage contain toxic alkaloids. The berries frequently become mixed with harvested commodities such as dry beans and green peas, decreasing crop quality. It is a native of Europe, is a weed of waste places and cultivated fields. Calyx is scarcely enlarging, not cupping the fruit. Flowers resemble those of the potato and tomato and are white to pale-blue, 1/4 to 3/8 inch wide, borne in clusters. Leaves are ovate, smooth to wavy-edged and tapered to the tip. Children seem to be especially attracted to the bright red berries, which may cause poisoning if eaten in sufficient quantity.Īn annual 6 to 24 inches tall with glabrous or appressed-hairy stems. it also becomes established in orchards, vineyards, and residential landscapes.
It is typically found growing in moist waste areas, in fence rows, along drainage ditches and waterways and may form large colonies or thickets. It is a native of Europe that is widely distributed throughout much of North America. Fruits are bright red, egg-shaped berries, arranged in open clusters. Flowers are star-shaped, having purple petals and prominent yellow or orange anthers. Leaves dark green to sometimes dark purplish, 1 to 4 inches long, often with one to several lobes or leaflets at the base. Seedheads, often purple, contain crowded large seeds.Ī trailing or climbing perennial with spreading stems up to 10 feet. Leaf sheaths are open lacking auricles and ligules. Barnyard grass was introduced from Europe and has become widespread throughout our region, especially in irrigated crops, gardens and other cultivated areas.
Spikeslets are crowded awns might be absent or can be found up to 1 inch long, stiff scattered hairs are common. Panicles are often reddish to dark purple. Leaf blades are flat, 3/8 to 5/8 inch broad, smooth, and without a ligule or auricles and ligules.
Wyoming FFA Agronomy Contest Common Weeds Click on image for full size picture.īarnyard grass is a vigorous, warm season annual grass reaching 1 to 5 feet in height with bases of many stems reddish to dark purple.