Planteværn Online > Skadevoldere - Weed biology<br> <sub>Agro-region: Denmark</sub> - Cockspur

Crop Protection Online

27.4 2024

Weed biology
_{Agro-region: Denmark}

Cockspur

Can be mistaken for

Green Bristle-grass, which has a ligule.

Characteristics

Early stages
Rolled vernation. The leaves are long and quite broad at the leaf base. The leaf surface may be rough and with a few hairs at the leaf base. The leaf sheaths are hairy or smooth. No dentation and ligule.

Mature plant
Cockspur can in very hot summers develop into a vigorous plant with up to 150 cm high stems, but it is usually somewhat smaller (25-60 cm). It is trailing at first and later erect. The erect or nodding inflorescence is almost top-shaped with spikelets joined into a panicle. Seed production: Up to approx. 2,000 seeds per plant.

Seed
3 types exist. Type 1 has gristly, stiff bract and palea. Bright shiny, plumb egg-shaped with flat ventral surface with no rachilla or ventral furrow. Bract with short point. Type 2 with stiff, firmly attached glumes. The lower with an up to 14 mm long awn – the upper with a short, approx. 1 mm long point. The majority of the veins have stiff, thorny hairs. Type 3: naked seed, frequent. Almost smooth, rough nakedplate-like.

Biology

Propagation and dispersal
Only through seeds.

Habit
Summer annual.

Importance

Cockspur is a relatively new weed, which so far is only found locally in fields where only Maize is grown. Here, it can cause quite heavy losses. As the species is sensitive to shade and needs heat to germinate (late germinating) as well as for further growth and development, it is expected to become a problem in open row crops.

For treatment options, consult 'Herbicides Across'.
For more options, consult 'Main Menu'.

Taxonomy

Gramineae.

Names in different languages

Danish :	Hanespore, alm.
German :	Hühnerhirse
English :	Cockspur
Latin :	Echinochloa crus-galli
Norwegian :	Hønsehirse
Swedish :	Hönshirs

Very early stage

Early stage

Spikelets

Mature plant

Seeds

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Weed biology Agro-region: Denmark