Native Names

There were no native names found.

Digitus is the Latin word for "finger", and they are distinguished by the long, finger-like inflorescences they produce.
 
                                    
Description

Crabgrass will grow upright to about 6 inches, but it will turf at 1/4-inch and will still produce seed at this height. Seedling leaves are light green and smooth. True leaves are dark green and smooth, and the leaf blade is from 1/4- to 1/3-inch across, up to 5-inches long, and pointed. Crabgrass often forms patches in lawns, and plants can grow together to form large clumps. The leaf sheath and upper leaf surface are smooth, but a few hairs may be found on the lower leaf surface. There may be a reddish tint at the base of the leaf. The inflorescence (flower stalk) has branches that originate from the main stem at 1/8- to 1/4- inches.
 
Habitat and Location

 Crabgrasses can be found in most warm, moist, fertile lawns in sun where turf is thin or mowed too short. They will tolerate hot, dry, compacted soils after establishment, and may spread aggressively to crowd out desirable grasses.

Uses

There are many uses for the crabgrass. The government introduced it to the U.S. in 1849 for use as a forage plant. Crabgrass does makes great cattle forage.

This Page was last update: Thursday, December 21, 2006 at 10:25:47 AM
This page was originally posted: 11/14/06; 10:58:41 AM.
Copyright 2008 Plants of the Omaha Indian Reservation

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