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Digitaria sanguinalis - (L.)Scop.

Common Name Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards There is a report that the leaves might be cyanogenic[218].
Habitats Arable ground and waste places in Britain[17].
Range Cosmopolitan. A rare casual in Britain[17].
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Digitaria sanguinalis Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak
Digitaria sanguinalis Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak

 

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Summary

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


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Panicum sanguinale.

Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - ground up and used as a flour[2, 57, 105]. It has excellent keeping qualities[74] and makes a fine white flour that can be used for semolina[74, 115].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Emetic  Ophthalmic  VD

A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[218]. A folk remedy for cataracts and debility, it is also said to be emetic[178, 218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fodder  Paper

A fibre obtained from the plant is used in making paper[74]. Animals: Fodder/animal feed, Forage.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a sandy soil[50]. Requires a warm sheltered position[162]. This species is occasionally cultivated, especially in Poland, for its edible seed. Special Features: Invasive.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

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Propagation

Seed - best sown in situ in the spring[162]. Only just cover the seed.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

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.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

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 [1d].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Digitaria ciliarisSouthern Crab Grass, Southern crabgrassAnnual0.6 7-10  LMHSNM102

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

(L.)Scop.

Botanical References

50200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Mike Johnson (B.Eng & Hort Cert IV)   Sat Jun 2 2007

More commonly called "Summer Grass" in Australia, where it is a troublesome temperate area summer garden weed.

Mike Johnson (B.Eng & Hort Cert IV)   Sat Jun 2 2007

More commonly called "Summer Grass" in Australia, where it is a troublesome temperate area summer garden weed.

herbalheritage   Wed Apr 1 2009

Herbal Heritage research works on medicinal plants

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