Eleusine coracana subsp. africana
African finger millet, African Finger Millet
(c) Shaun Swanepoel, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Eleusine coracana subsp. africana (African finger millet) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by key distinguishing features are inflorescence width and branch number.
African finger millet is a naturalized annual grass found in southern California coastal areas, western Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in disturbed areas at elevations below 400 meters. Flowering from July to December, this plant produces small, compact spikelets in slender branching clusters. Growing with erect stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall that often branch from the base, it forms dense, clustered clumps. Its leaves are mostly basal, with blade-like structures 30 to 60 millimeters long and 6 to 10 millimeters wide. The plant's inflorescence features 4 to 20 slender branches, each 4 to 17 centimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key distinguishing features are inflorescence width and branch number
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 400 m
Outside California: Arizona, South Carolina
Bloom period
Eleusine coracana subsp. africana blooms Jul-Dec.
How to tell it apart
vs Cynodon: Goose grass has flattened stems and multiple florets per spikelet; bermuda grass is round-stemmed with single florets.; vs Digitaria: Goose grass has thick, dense flower rows on flattened stems; crabgrass has delicate rows on round stems.; vs Bromus: Goose grass has finger spikes radiating from one point; brome has elongated branching panicles.; vs Liriope: Eleusine is an annual grass with finger spikes; Liriope is a perennial lily-relative with strap-like leaves.; vs Paspalum: Goose grass has flowers in tight rows on both spike sides; paspalum has rows on one side only.
Frequently asked questions
Is Eleusine coracana subsp. africana native to California?
No. Eleusine coracana subsp. africana is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eleusine coracana subsp. africana bloom?
Eleusine coracana subsp. africana blooms Jul-Dec.
What plant family does Eleusine coracana subsp. africana belong to?
Eleusine coracana subsp. africana is in the Poaceae family, genus Eleusine.
What habitat does Eleusine coracana subsp. africana grow in?
Eleusine coracana subsp. africana grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.