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How to Manage Pests

Identification: Weed Photo Gallery

Junglerice

Scientific name: Echinochloa colona (Grass Family: Poaceae)

Click on image to enlarge

Life stages of Junglerice mature plant flowers leaf bands spikelets and florets (floer clusters and fruit) seedling

Junglerice is a clumping summer annual grass. It is widely distributed in California and its range is expanding. Junglerice is found in the Central Valley, San Francisco Bay region, western South Coast ranges, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, southwestern region, and Sonoran Desert to about 300 feet (100 m). Junglerice inhabits summer-irrigated crop fields and other disturbed, moist sites. It germinates throughout the summer.

Habitat

Summer-irrigated crop fields, margins of ponds and rice fields, pastures, orchards, vineyards, landscaped areas, and other disturbed moist areas.

Seedling

Leaves are grayish or dull green and sometimes have banding. Seedling leaves resemble those of the mature plant.

Mature plant

Mature junglerice plants are prostrate or erect and range from about 2 to 3 feet (60–90 cm) in length or height. The species is highly variable. Leaves are rolled in the bud. Leaf blades are flat and usually have a hairless upper surface. They are about 1-1/5 to 8 inches (3–22 cm) long and often have purplish banding. These purple bands are what distinguish junglerice from similar looking barnyardgrass, dallisgrass and crabgrass. Stems are hairless except for hairs at the stem joints (nodes).

Collar region

There are no ligules or auricles.

Flower

Flowers bloom from June through October. The flower heads are about 1-1/5 to 6 inches (3–15 cm) long, with short, compact branches.

Reproduction

Reproduce by seed.

Related species/ Similar looking plants

Barnyardgrass
Dallisgrass
Crabgrass

More information


Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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