Eleusine indica | SeedImages

Species category

Weed

Common name

Indian goosegrass, goose grass, manienie ali'i, wiregrass

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

CaryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).

Shape

OvalOval:
Broadly elliptic.
caryopsis and an ovateOvate:
Egg-shaped with basal end the broadest.
floret.

Size

Length 1.5 mm
Width 1 mm
Thickness 1 mm

Color

Black seed and a gray pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.

Texture

Seed with strong transverseTransverse:
Set crosswise, crossing or at right angles.
grooves that are not visible in the caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
form.

Lemma

OvateOvate:
Egg-shaped with basal end the broadest.
with a strong central nerve

Palea

OvateOvate:
Egg-shaped with basal end the broadest.
and concave

Other structures

Seed covered with a thin loose pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.
. A seed with the pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.
attached is called a caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
.

Identification notes

This unit is unusual because the pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.
is usually closely attached to the seed testaTesta:
The protective covering of a seed usually composed of the inner and outer integuments. Also called a seed coat.
. Here, the pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.
becomes separated from the seed and is one of the very few examples of a true seedTrue seed:
A mature fertilized ovule consisting of an embryo, with or without and external food reserve (e.g., endosperm) enclosed by the testa.
in the grass family. When the pericarpPericarp:
Fruit wall; derived from the ovary wall.
is closely associated with the testaTesta:
The protective covering of a seed usually composed of the inner and outer integuments. Also called a seed coat.
, the unit is called a caryopsisCaryopsis:
The single-seeded fruit or grain of the grass family (Poaceae); the fruit wall (pericarp) is united with the seed coat (testa).
or a grass fruitFruit:
A mature ovary and any associated parts.
.