Summer grass, Tropical finger grass
Digitaria ciliaris
Family: Poaceae
What it is like
A wild millet grass. It is an annual grass. It branches and roots at the lower nodes. It is 30-100 cm tall. The leaf blade is 5-20 cm long. The flowering stalk has 3 spike like stalks each 3-20 cm long. The spikelets are 2.5-3.5 mm long. It is a very variable plant.
There are about 250 Digitaria species. Possibly not naturalised in Tasmania.
Where it is found
It grows in the tropics and subtropics. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. Tasmanian Herbarium. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, East Africa, Easter Island, Eswatini, Europe, Fiji, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Himalayas, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Mali, Marquesas, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Rotuma, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tasmania, Tibet, Tuvalu, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
It is harvested as a wild cereal in times of scarcity.
Edible parts
Seeds, cereal
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
a crab grass, Arisipillu, Cecele, Chansarieu, Djadje, Djadjin, Etupu, Fundo-bravo, Fonhe-tchole, Nwa-che-myet, Takri, Takria, Tara, Shikool, Xian mao ma tang
Synonyms
Digitaria adscendens (Kunth) Henrard; Digitaria adscendens subsp. chrysoblephara (Fig. & De Not.) Henr.; Digitaria adscendens subsp. marginata (Link) Henr.; Digitaria adscendens subsp. nubica (Stapf) Henr.; Digitaria adscendens var. criniformis Henr.; Digitaria adscendens var. fimbriata (Link) Cuf.; Digitaria adscendens var. rhachiseta Henr.; Digitaria adscendens var. sericea (Honda) Henr.; Digitaria barbulata Desv.; Digitaria bicormis subsp. gamblei Henr.; Digitaria biformis Wild.; Digitaria biformis subsp. desvauxii Henr.; Digitaria biformis subsp. willdenowii Henr.; Digitaria brevifolia Link; Digitaria chinensis Hornemann; Digitaria chrysoblephara Fig. & De Not.; Digitaria ciliaris subsp. chrysoblephara (Fig. & De Not.) Blake; Digitaria ciliaris subsp. nubica (Stapf) Blake; Digitaria ciliaris var. chrysoblephara (Fig. De Not.) R.R. Stewart; Digitaria ciliaris var. criniformis (Henr.) R.R. Stewart; Digitaria commutata Schult.; Digitaria fimbriata Link; Digitaria marginata Link; Digitaria marginata var. fimbriata (Link) Stapf; Digitaria marginata var. linkii Stapf; Digitaria marginata var. nubica Stapf; Digitaria sericea (Honda) J. Ohwi; Panicum adscendens Kunth; Panicum biforme (Wild.) Kunth; Panicum ciliare Retzius; Panicum sanguinale var. biforme (Willd.) Hack. ex Dur. & Schinz; Paspalum sanguinale var. ciliare (Retz.) Hook.f.; Paspalum sanguinale var. rottleri Hook. f.; Syntherisma ciliare Schrader; Syntherisma sericea Honda;