Longflower Crabgrass
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(Digitaria longiflora)
Longflower Crabgrass (Digitaria longiflora)
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scallions
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
scallions
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: scallions | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: scallions | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2023-12-03T18:02:43-08:00 |
Summary
Digitaria longiflora, commonly known as Longflower Crabgrass, is an annual grass native to tropical and subtropical open grasslands and savannas in Africa. It is the wild progenitor of the domesticated crop Digitaria exilis, also known as fonio. Digitaria longiflora typically grows to a height of 10-50 cm, with a sprawling form that can cover a significant area. It produces slender, elongated inflorescences with tiny flowers during the warm season, which are not particularly showy but are ecologically significant for certain wildlife.
Longflower Crabgrass is valued for its hardiness and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a useful species for erosion control and soil stabilization in its native range. It is also utilized in traditional African medicine. In cultivation, it prefers full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. Caution is advised when cultivating Digitaria longiflora outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0
Longflower Crabgrass is valued for its hardiness and ability to thrive in poor soils, making it a useful species for erosion control and soil stabilization in its native range. It is also utilized in traditional African medicine. In cultivation, it prefers full sun and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. Caution is advised when cultivating Digitaria longiflora outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Grass
- Height: 1-1.5 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention:
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Erosion Control, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Tropical and subtropical open grasslands and savannas in Africa
Other Names
Common Names: Longflower Crabgrass, Wire Crabgrass, Slender Crab-Grass, Tropical Crabgrass
Scientific Names: Digitaria longiflora, Agrostis lenta, Agrostis triracemosa, Agrostis triracemosa, Anastrophus nematanthus, Digitaria corradii, Digitaria curvipes, Digitaria eriolepis, Digitaria filiculmis
GBIF Accepted Name: Digitaria longiflora