SafePlants

Summer Grass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

The name "Summer Grass" appears in various contexts, from bluegrass festivals to book titles and even artificial turf products. However, botanically, it refers to a common weed, Digitaria sanguinalis.

Considerations for Pets

• Summer grass is mentioned as a common weed in lawns and gardens, indicating frequent exposure for outdoor pets.

Considerations for Children

• Summer grass is mentioned as a common weed in lawns and gardens, indicating frequent exposure for children playing outdoors.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Digitaria sanguinalis
• Common Name: Summer Grass
• Mentioned as an Environmental Weed.

Distribution and Habitat

• Summer Grass is described as a common weed in Australia's lawns and gardens, as well as invading bushland in many regions.

Morphological Characteristics

• Summergrass is an annual with fibrous roots.
• It forms clusters of soft stems that grow close to the ground and often take root at the nodes.
• Leaves are hairy.
• Leaves have a green-yellow color with light purple or white sheaths at the stem base and a membranous ligule.
• It has an annual sprawling grass, growing almost horizontal from its centre.

Ecological Role

• It is described as a very fast-growing weed.
• Mentioned as an invasive plant.

Quirky Facts

• The Chinese name for a related plant, D?ng chóng xià c?o (????), translates to "winter worm, summer grass," referring to a caterpillar fungus. Although not directly about Digitaria sanguinalis, it presents an intriguing connection between the plant world and the insect world within the realm of "summer grass" terminology.