Plant · GBIF taxon 5289972
Hairy Crabgrass
Digitaria sanguinalisAlso known as Large Crabgrass, Hairy Finger-grass, Purple Crabgrass, Polish Millet
Hairy crabgrass spreads quickly across sunny, disturbed ground by forming dense mats of branching stems that root at the lower joints. Distinctive finger-like seed heads radiate outward from the stem tips, turning purplish as the seeds mature in late summer. Dense, soft hairs coating its leaf sheaths and blades distinguish it from closely related lawn weeds.
AnnualGrassySpreading
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photosynthetic
Predators
- Domestic Cattle
- Canada Goose
- House Sparrow
ThreatsHerbicides, mechanical weeding, turf management
HabitatsLawns, gardens, agricultural fields, waste places, roadsides
Life spanAnnual
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPoales
- FamilyPoaceae
- GenusDigitaria
- SpeciesDigitaria sanguinalis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for dense hairs on leaf sheaths and seed spikes arranged like fingers on a hand.
- Management: Hand-pull early in summer before the purplish seed heads mature and drop seed.
Competitor no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子 · cc0
Frequent Companion (c) Thomas Gyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Gyselinck · cc-by
Close Relative (c) crothfels, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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