Crab Grass, Hairy crabgrass

Digitaria sanguinalis

Physical Characteristics

Digitaria sanguinalis is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan. A rare casual in Britain[17].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed - ground up and used as a flour[2, 57, 105]. It has excellent keeping qualities[74] and makes a fine white flour that can be used for semolina[74, 115].

Medicinal Uses

Emetic Ophthalmic VD A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of gonorrhoea[218]. A folk remedy for cataracts and debility, it is also said to be emetic[178, 218].

Known Hazards

There is a report that the leaves might be cyanogenic[218].