SafePlants

Digitaria aequiglumis

Digitaria aequiglumis, also known as Argentinian crabgrass, is a species of grass belonging to the genus Digitaria.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Digitaria aequiglumis (Hack. & Arechav.) Parodi
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Subfamily: Panicoideae (as classified by GPWG 2001)
• Synonyms:
  • Digitaria aequiglumis var. laetevirens (Mez) Henrard
  • Digitaria chillanensis Henrard (pro syn.)
  • Panicum aequiglume Hack & Arechav
• Common Names: Argentinian crabgrass, Digitaire glumes gales (French), Argentijns vingergras (Dutch)

Distribution and Habitat

• Digitaria aequiglumis is native to South America.
• It is considered a rare and locally naturalized agricultural weed, particularly in maize fields.
• The plant has been identified in Brazil (BR-CE, BR-GO) and Western Australia (Alien Species)

Morphological Characteristics

• Habit: Annual
• Culms: Erect or geniculately ascending, 20-40 cm long, 2-4 noded.
• Can be without nodal roots, or rooting from lower nodes.
• Stoloniferous annual, growing up to 0.7 m high.
• Leaves: Sheath glabrous or with a few sparse hairs.

Ecological Role

• Considered an alien invasive species in some regions.

Genetic Information

• Mention of Magnaporthe oryzae haplotype 2 cytochrome b (cytb) gene (partial cds mitochondrial 510 bp linear DNA KM023778.1 GI:689436334) might be related to studies about diseases affecting this plant, but the exact connection is not specified.

Further Information

• Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe (DAISIE): http://www.europe-aliens.org/
• Euro+Med PlantBase: http://ww2.bgbm.org/euroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?
• Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)
• Discover Life
• Tropicos
• New World Grasses
• Instituto de Botánica Darwinion de Buenos Aires (SI) - Herbarium
• Kew Grasses Database: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db/www/imp02896.htm