Summer grass, Large Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A millet grass. It is an annual grass. It can be 10-80 cm tall. It tends to lie along the ground and root at the nodes. The nodes and leaf sheaths are covered with fine hairs. The leaf blades are 5-20 cm long. The flower spike spreads out like fingers on a hand. The spikelets are usually in pairs. They are on short stalks of unequal length.

There are about 250 Digitaria species.

Where it is found

It grows in warm temperate and upland subtropical regions. It needs summer moisture. It is a cereal crop in Russia and Kashmir. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 2,000 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Antilles, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Central Asia, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, East Africa, Europe (country/location of origin), France, Greece, Haiti, India, Italy, Jamaica, Kashmir, Lesser Antilles, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Mexico, Mozambique, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Poland, Polynesia, Portugal, Russia, SE Asia, Slovenia, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Tibet, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are used as a cereal. They are ground into flour.

It was used as a cereal in southern Europe during Roman times. It is a minor cereal in the Caucasus of Russia and in Kashmir. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ahipody, Capim-colchao, Capim-de-colchao, Finger grass, Gramilla, Gramilla de cuaresma, Garranchudo, Hairy finger grass, Krvavordeča srakonja, Ma tang, Manna grit, Pastoa blanco, Pastoa chato, Pastoa colchon, Pasto de cuaresma, Polish millet

Synonyms

Digitaria marginata Link; Panicum sanguinale Linnaeus; Paspalum sanguinale (Linnaeus) Lamarck;