This plant can grow to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and has long, flat leaves which are often purplish at the base.

crus-galli has long, somewhat spreading papillose cilia at the summits of the internodes and bases of the branches in the inflorescence and short, very thick papillose cilia along the lateral nerves of the 2nd glume, sterile lemma, and somewhat spreading spikes", and sterile lemmas with awns up to 10 mm (0.39 in) long.

[4] Barnyard grass commonly occurs throughout tropical Asia and Africa in fields and along roadsides, ditches, along railway lines, and in disturbed areas such as gravel pits and dumps.

Succeeds in cool regions, but better adapted to areas where average annual temperature is 14–16 °C (57–61 °F).

This grass is readily eaten by wild animals: rabbits, deer, waterfowls, etc.

Reported to be preventative and tonic, barnyard grass is a folk remedy in India for carbuncles, haemorrhages, sores, spleen trouble, cancer and wounds.

Rural Development Administration of South Korean government discovered barnyard grass effectively lowers blood sugar and cholesterol when consumed, according to Yonhap.

utilis),[1] a domesticated form of E. crus-galli, is cultivated on a small scale in Japan, Korea and China.

[1] This grass is subject to the brown spot disease caused by Bipolaris oryzae, a fungal infection.

The following Punjabi dialect forms are recorded in Punjab for this grass: [verification needed]