Dactyloctenium aegyptium

Name and publication

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (L.) Willd., Enum. Pl. 2: 1029 (180) (published as “aegyptiacum,” usually interpreted as a typographical error).

Description

The inflorescences of crowfoot grass are sold in the potpourri industry as “maker grass” or “spider grass.” The digitately arranged spikes of 1-8 branches, 1.5-6 cm long, are very distinctive.

Nativity and distribution

Dactyloctenium aegyptium is native to Africa and Asia but also naturalized in disturbed sites of the southern U.S.

Family

Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)

Synonymy

Cynosurus aegyptis L.