Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.
Family: Poaceae, Tribe: Paniceae
Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)
Digitaria adscendens (HBK) Henr., D. praecox Willd.
Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)
large crabgrass, hairy crabgrass
Primary Disseminule Type
spikelet
Description (diagnostics are in brown)
Spikelets occurring in homomorphic fertile pairs, with disarticulation at base of each spikelet. Spikelet nearly sessile (pedicels short), elliptic to lanceolate, dorsally compressed, (1.7)2.5–3(3.4) mm long x 0.7–1.1 mm wide, consisting of one fertile floret and one basal sterile lemma without rachilla extension.
Lower glume 0.2–0.4 mm long, membranous, veinless. Upper glume lanceolate, 0.9–2 mm long (0.3–0.5 length of spikelet), membranous, 3–5-veined, surface pubescent, apex obtuse.
Sterile lemma elliptic, same length as spikelet, sometimes purple-tinged, membranous, 5–7-veined (the 3 central veins widely spaced), surface rough on veins, finely pubescent between veins, long hairy along margins, apex acute.
Fertile lemma elliptic, yellow or gray and frequently purple-tinged when immature, often becoming brown at maturity, cartilaginous, much thinner on margins, (1.7)2.5–3(3.3) mm long, without keel, margins flat (covering most of palea), apex acute.
Fertile palea brown, cartilaginous.
Caryopsis elliptic to oblong, 1.5–2 mm long x ca. 0.7 mm wide, translucent with yellowish highlights, embryo >0.33 length of caryopsis, hilum oval.
Similar Species
Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)
AUQP, AUWP, NZWP, NZBORIC, NZBPI