Scientific Name:
Digitaria ischaemum
Pronunciation:
dij-ih-TARE-ree-uh IS-kay-mum
Common Name:
smooth crabgrass
Family Name:
Poaceae
Plant Type:
Annual (true), Poales (grass-like), Weed (horticultural)
Key ID Features:
Annual grass with prostrate or ascending habit, rhizomes absent; leaf vernation rolled, blades dull green to purplish, 2-6mm wide, lacking hairs (trichomes) except sometimes in collar area, rough textured, tips sharp-pointed, sheaths mostly closed, compressed, smooth, auricles absent, collar with long trichomes, ligule 2-3mm long, frayed or wavy edged.
Habit:
Spreading
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
< 0.1m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Pubescent
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Rolled in the bud; leaves to 6mm wide
Inflorescence Type:
Spikelet
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Green
Flower Time at Peak:
Sep
Additional Info:
Florets in two rows along axis of long spikelet; 2 to 6 spikelets about 5cm long arising from a common node.
Fruit Type:
Grain (caryopsis)
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Red
Organ Modifications:
Stems do NOT root at the nodes.
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
(Drought tolerant)
