Echinochloa crus-galli, commonly known as barnyard millet or cockspur grass, is a cereal-like grass in the Poaceae (grass) family. The genus name Echinochloa comes from the Greek echinos (“hedgehog”) and chloa (“grass”), referring to its bristly seed heads. The species name crus-galli means “cock’s spur” in Latin, describing the shape of its panicle. It is native to Eurasia but has spread worldwide as both a cultivated millet and a resilient weed in paddy fields. Archaeological evidence suggests its early domestication in East Asia—particularly in China and Japan—where it was a significant food crop during the Neolithic period, before rice cultivation became dominant. Today, it is still grown as a minor millet in parts of India, Nepal, Japan, and Korea, and is also used as animal fodder and in birdseed.

The grains are small and husked, typically processed into porridge, flour, or fermented foods. Known for its drought tolerance and ability to grow in poor soils, barnyard millet has re-emerged as a climate-resilient grain, valued in health-conscious and gluten-free diets. Historically, it sustained agrarian societies during crop failures, serving as a famine food in many cultures.