Digitaria

Digitaria is a genus of plants in the grass family, Poaceae. Commonly known as crabgrass, species within this genus are distributed worldwide in tropical and warm temperate regions. Digitaria species are characterized by their spreading or ascending growth habit, often with stems that root at the nodes. The inflorescence is typically composed of several slender, spikelike racemes that radiate from a central point, resembling the claws of a crab, hence the common name.

Several species of Digitaria are considered significant agricultural weeds, particularly in lawns, gardens, and cultivated fields. They are prolific seed producers and can quickly colonize disturbed soil. Crabgrass is often difficult to control due to its aggressive growth and resistance to some herbicides.

However, some species of Digitaria are also valued as forage crops or for their grains, which are consumed locally in certain regions. For example, fonio ( Digitaria exilis and Digitaria iburua) are important cereal crops in parts of West Africa.

The taxonomy within the Digitaria genus can be complex, with numerous species and subspecies exhibiting considerable variation. Identification can be challenging and often requires careful examination of morphological characteristics such as spikelet structure and ligule shape.