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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Digitaria ciliaris is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

D. marginata. Link. Panicum adscendens.

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

One report says the plant is edible but does not specify which part[145]. A wild millet grass with possibly edible seeds [1b].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fodder

Fodder/animal feed, Forage. Environmental: Agroforestry, Soil conservation. D. ciliaris cv. Red River is a high-yielding forage and conservation-type cultivar developed and released in 1988 [1d].

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A polymorphic species[58].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Bamboo grass; blanket crabgrass; hairy crabgrass; Henry's crabgrass; large crabgrass; smooth crabgrass; summergrass; tropical finger grass. Spanish: frente de toro; fresadilla; hierba conejo; hierba estival; pangola; zacate de agua. Chinese: xian mao ma tang. Australia: crab grass; summer grass. Bhutan: chittrey banso; tampula. Brazil: capim tinga; capim-colchao; capim-de-roça; capim-milhá; milhá. Dominican Republic: grama dulce cimarrona; pata de cotorra; pendejuelo. Germany: aufsteigende fingerhirse; wimper- fingerhirse. India: malsa; malsh; suruwari. Indonesia: jampang jemprak; jampang pait; suket djrempak; sunbak gangrir. Japan: mehishiba. Java: genjeran; jelamparan; suket ceker ayam. Malaysia: cakar ayam. Mexico: zacate cangrejo; zacate velludo. Peru: gramilla; pasto colchón; pata de gallo. Philippines: baludyangan; saka-saka. Puerto Rico: pata de gallina; yerba de juey. Sri Lanka: arisi pul; guru tana. Thailand: jya-ma-tang; yah-tin-nok; ya-plongkhanok. Vietnam: tuc hinh leo.

Native Range

TROPICAL ASIA: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania (south), Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska (southeast), Illinois, Oklahoma, Idaho (southeast), Montana (east), Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky (west), Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico (south), Texas, California (south)), Mexico SOUTHERN AMERICA: Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, United States (Puerto Rico), Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay EUROPE: Russian Federation (Astrakhan, Volgogradskaja oblast) AFRICA: Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa (Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North-West)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive. D. ciliaris is a typical weedy annual grass, flourishing mainly in disturbed, open areas, with full sun or partial shade. It is a widespread weed of annual and perennial crops, including pastures, in the tropics and sub-tropics. It is also abundant on roadsides and wasteland [1d]. Listed as a serious or principal weed of 11 countries, mainly in Asia and in a wide range of crops, including groundnut, cotton, rice, maize, sorghum, vegetables, pineapple, cassava and tea [1d].

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Digitaria sanguinalis	Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass	Annual	0.5	6-9	F	LM	N	M	2	1	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Digitaria ciliaris - (Retz.)Koeler.