Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis

Family: Poaceae or Gramineae

What it is like

Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late fall, Mid fall. Form: Spreading or horizontal.

Digitaria sanguinalis 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 7. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 0.5

Where it is found

Arable ground and waste places in Britain.

Cosmopolitan. A rare casual in Britain.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea Republic of, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uruguay, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, USA, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Vietnam.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Seed - ground up and used as a flour. It has excellent keeping qualities and makes a fine white flour that can be used for semolina.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea. A folk remedy for cataracts and debility, it is also said to be emetic.

Emetic: Induces vomiting.

Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.

VD: Used in the treatment of venereal disease

Other

Rating: 2

A fibre obtained from the plant is used in making paper. Animals: Fodder/animal feed, Forage.

Fodder: Food given to the animals (including plants cut and carried to them) rather than forage for themselves.

Paper: Related to the entry for Fibre, these plants have been specifically mentioned for paper making.

How it is grown

Prefers a sandy soil. Requires a warm sheltered position. This species is occasionally cultivated, especially in Poland, for its edible seed. Special Features: Invasive.

Propagating it: Seed - best sown in situ in the spring. Only just cover the seed.

Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Annual

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

There is a report that the leaves might be cyanogenic.

D. sanguinalis is a noxious weed particularly common in maize, beet, vegetable crops, orchards and vineyards. It is one of the major weeds found in early-sown rice. It is also found on waste ground, railway embankments, neglected lawns and grassy ridges.

Its other names

Local names

crabgrass. hairy crabgrass, hairy finger-grass, large crabgrass, crab finger grass, purple crabgrass. Spanish: alpiste cimar (Honduras); frente de toro (Honduras); fresadilla (Honduras); garrachuelo; pasto de cuaresma (Argentina); pendejuelo (Nicaragua); sombrillitas (Honduras); zacate digitaria (Honduras); zacate pata de gallina (Honduras). French: manne terrestre; panic sanguin; sanguinette. Portuguese: milha-digitada. Argentina: pasto colchón, pasto cuaresma. Brazil: milha-de-pendao. France: Digitaire sanguine. Germany: Bluthirse; Fingerhirse, Blutrote. Italy: sanguinella. Netherlands: Bloedgierst. Spain: pata de gallina.

Synonyms

Panicum sanguinale.