GrassWildAnnual

Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.

Kara bara · large Crab grass

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Description

Digitaria sanguinalis is an annual creeping to ascending grass, usually 20–100 cm tall, with stems that often spread along the ground and root at lower nodes under favourable conditions. Culms are slender, branched, cylindrical, and usually covered with fine hairs, especially near the nodes. Leaves are linear to lanceolate, flat, and hairy, usually 5–20 cm long and 3–12 mm wide. Leaf blades are soft, green, and covered with fine hairs on both surfaces. Leaf sheaths are hairy, and the ligule is membranous. The inflorescence consists of several finger-like racemes (usually 3–10) arising from a common point at the tip of the culm. Racemes are slender and arranged like fingers. Spikelets are small, paired, and arranged along one side of the rachis. One floret is fertile, enclosed by lemma and palea. The fruit is a small caryopsis, brownish and finely textured.

Diagnostic Characters

Vegetative

Annual creeping grass. Hairy stems and leaves. Spreading growth habit.

Floral

Finger-like racemes. Multiple spikes from one point. Small paired spikelets.

Fruit & Seed

Tiny brown grains.

Distribution

Native range: Native to Europe, Asia, Africa.

In Pakistan: Widely distributed in Pakistan, India, Europe, North America, Australia. Common in Pakistan as a summer weed.

Phenology

Flowering

Fruiting

Flowering: July–September Fruiting: August–October

Ethnobotany & Uses

Agricultural Importance

Generally considered a weed in Maize fields, Vegetable crops, Rice fields. It competes for Water, Nutrients, Light.

Fodder Value

Young plants may provide Seasonal grazing material, Green forage.

Ecological Importance

Provides cover in disturbed habitats. Supports insects and soil organisms.

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Where it grows on campus

North-North-West Campus1

individuals mapped across 1 zone

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Taxonomic Notes

Digitaria belongs to tribe Paniceae, characterized by Digitate or racemose inflorescences, Spikelets arranged in pairs, Panicoid grass morphology. D. sanguinalis differs from related species by Hairy leaves and stems, Larger size, Creeping habit.