Hairy crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalis
Synonyms: Paspalum filiforme, Leptochloa fascicularis, Panicum sanguinale subvar. platystachyon, Digitaria caucasica, Paspalum sanguinale, Digitaria praecox, Panicum sanguinale subvar. anisotrichum, Digitaria sanguinalis var. biverticillata, Panicum sanguinale chloranthum, Digitaria sanguinalis var. stewartii, Digitaria aegyptiaca subsp. caucasica, Digitaria intermedia, Digitaria sanguinalis subsp. pakistanica, Digitaria sanguinalis var. rottleriana, Paspalum aegyptiacum, Digitaria sanguinalis f. chlorantha, Milium membranaceum, Digitaria ischaemum var. esculenta, Panicum rottleri, Digitaria aegyptiaca, Panicum gussonei, Digitaria sanguinalis subsp. pectiniformis, Panicum sanguinale var. major, Digitaria sanguinalis subsp. aegyptiaca, Dactilon sanguinale, Panicum ciliatum, Panicum sanguinale f. compositum, Digitaria sanguinalis var. frumentacea, Digitaria ischaemum var. praecox, Panicum trichostachyum, Panicum sanguinale var. parvispicula, Digitaria australis, Digitaria sanguinalis subsp. sabulosa, Syntherisma vulgaris, Panicum sanguinale, Digitaria sanguinalis f. intercedens, Digitaria sanguinalis var. glabra, Paspalum sanguinale var. nanum, Digitaria sabulosa, Digitaria sanguinalis f. composita, Digitaria sanguinalis subsp. vulgaris, Digitaria sanguinalis var. vulgaris, Digitaria sanguinalis var. aegyptiaca, Digitaria sanguinaria, Panicum aegyptium, Digitaria eriogona, Digitaria pilosa, Digitaria sanguinalis var. pakistanica, Panicum sanguinale subvar. leptostachyon, Asperella digitaria, Panicum sanguinale var. vulgare, Panicum sanguinale var. esculentum, Digitaria sanguinalis var. parvispicula, Digitaria pectiniformis, Sanguinaria nevenarae, Digitaria gracilis, Panicum ischaemum subsp. sanguinale, Digitaria sienitica, Digitaria sanguinalis var. pectiniformis, Panicum sanguinolentum, Digitaria nervosa, Panicum eriogonum, Cynodon praecox, Digitaria sanguinalis f. illinoensis, Digitaria nealleyi, Digitaria panicea, Digitaria plebeia, Syntherisma sanguinalis, Digitaria ciliaris f. intercedens, Syntherisma praecox, Panicum sanguinale var. breviglume, Panicum sanguinale var. brevifolium, Paspalum sanguinale var. rottleri, Digitaria vulgaris, Panicum sanguinale var. aegyptiacum, Digitaria sanguinea, Panicum sanguineum, Digitaria sanguinolenta, Digitaria stricta
Gallery
Botanical Description
Digitaria sanguinalis (hairy crabgrass, large crabgrass) is a sprawling, mat-forming annual grass of the family Poaceae growing 20–60 cm long, with slender prostrate to ascending culms that root readily at the lower nodes and turn upwards at the tips. The flat, soft, light green leaf blades 5–13 cm long and 3–10 mm wide are softly hairy on both surfaces and along the margins, attached to loose hairy sheaths with a short membranous ligule. The distinctive inflorescence consists of three to nine very long, very thin, radiating finger-like spike-branches up to 15 cm long borne digitally or sub-digitally atop the slender culms, frequently tinged reddish or purplish. Along each branch the small ovate-lanceolate spikelets are arranged in pairs in two rows on a flattened, winged rachis, each spikelet about 3 mm long and containing one fertile floret. The fruit is a small narrow caryopsis. Originally native to warm temperate regions of Europe and Asia, hairy crabgrass is now one of the most widespread weed grasses worldwide and has long been cultivated as a minor cereal in parts of Eastern Europe and Poland under the name "manna grass."
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.