Wire Grass, Indian goosegrass, Yard Grass, Goose Grass

Eleusine indica

Physical Characteristics

Eleusine indica is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropics. Naturalized in S. Europe[50].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root Seed Edible Uses: Seed - cooked[55, 74, 106]. The seed is rather small[159], it is sometimes used as a famine food[177]. Used as a millet, it can be cooked whole or ground into a flour and used in making cakes, gruels etc[183]. Young seedlings - raw or cooked and used as a side dish with rice[46, 61, 105, 177, 183]. Root - raw[177].

Medicinal Uses

Depurative Diaphoretic Diuretic Febrifuge Laxative The whole plant, but especially the root, is depurative, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative and sudorific[240, 283]. It is also used in the treatment of liver complaints[240, 283]. The plant is a component of the 'basic remedy' in Vietnamese traditional medicine, it is also used in the treatment of influenza, hypertension, oliguria and retention of urine[283]. The plant can be used fresh or dried[266].

Known Hazards

None known