foxtail millet

Family

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Setaria italica

Other Common Names:

foxtail bristlegrass

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Panicum italica

Chaetochloa italica

Habit

Foxtail millet is an erect summer annual that can reach up to 5 feet tall.

Leaves

Leaves can be glabrous and may be rough and up to 12 inches long. Leaves are approximately 2-8 inches wide. The ligule is a fringe of hairs that is less than a tenth of an inch.

Identifying Characteristics

Foxtail millet can be identified by its hairy ligule and hollow stem that has pubescence on the nodes.

Flower Seed Head

The seedhead is a bristly panicle, similar to most of the foxtail species. The seedhead is nodding and ranges from 1 to 8 inches long. This species flowers from July to September.

Seed Fruit

The fruit is a caryopsis, a simple dry grain, that is oval in shape. The color can vary from tan, red, brown to black.

Where Found

Commonly a weed of fields, pastures, turf, and other non crop sites, such as railroads and roadsides.

Leaf Hair on Upper Surface

no hairs

Leaf Arrangement

rolled in bud

Mature Leaf Width

Varies:

6 to 15 mm,

more than 15 mm

Stem

round

Seedhead

bristly

Root Structure

fibrous

Life Cycle

summer annual

Auricle

not present

Ligule

hairy

Ligule Length

Varies:

less than 1 mm,

1-2 mm,

2-3 mm

Plant Type

Grass