Eleusine indica
Goose grass, india goose grass, India Goose Grass
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Eleusine indica (Goose grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by white midrib is diagnostic feature.
Goose grass is a naturalized annual found in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, southern California coastal areas, and southern California inland regions in disturbed areas at elevations generally below 350 meters. Flowering from July to December, this plant produces pale green to whitish flowers in compact, finger-like clusters. Growing with prostrate to erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it spreads extensively across open ground. Its leaves have prominent white midribs and are relatively narrow, measuring 5 to 40 centimeters long and 3 to 8 millimeters wide. The plant forms multiple branching spikes that create a distinctive, multi-fingered grass formation across disturbed landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; white midrib is diagnostic feature
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 350 m
California counties: Alameda, Los Angeles, San Diego, Yolo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Kern, Santa Barbara, Tehama, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Butte, Ventura, Santa Clara
Outside California: most of United States, Canada, warm temperate, subtropics native to southern Eurasia
Bloom period
Eleusine indica 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 indica native to California?
No. Eleusine indica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Eleusine indica bloom?
Eleusine indica blooms Jul-Dec.
Where in California does Eleusine indica grow?
Eleusine indica occurs in Alameda, Los Angeles, San Diego, Yolo, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Kern and other counties, at elevations of generally < 350 m.
What plant family does Eleusine indica belong to?
Eleusine indica is in the Poaceae family, genus Eleusine.
What habitat does Eleusine indica grow in?
Eleusine indica grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.