crabgrass, southern
| COMMON NAME: | Crabgrass, southern | |
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| SCIENTIFIC NAME: | Digitaria ciliaris | |
| FAMILY: | Poaceae | |
| LIFECYCLE: | Annual | |
| FEATURES: | Growth habit: Prostrate growth habit, rooting at the nodes; Stem: Rounded and rooting at the nodes. Stems/leaf sheath pubescent.; Leaf: Leaf 3 to 6 inches in length, pubescent on lower 1/3. Leaf sheath pubescent.; Collar: Ligule membranous, with jagged edge, not completely encompassing stem. ; Inflorescence: Three to six racemes terminating a stem. Normally branching along the top 2 inches of the inflorescence stem. |
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| DESCRIPTION: | Almost indistinguishable from large crabgrass. Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) found more in the transition zone and north. Southern crabgrass found more in the transition zone and south. Southern crabgrass is a laterally (decumbent) growing summer annual grass. Heavy pubescence is the primary characteristic distinguishing it from smooth crabgrass. Southern also roots at the nodes, whereas smooth does not. |
 Broad View |
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 Broad View |