Classification
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Digitaria Haller, Hist. Stirp. Helv. 244 (1768)
Synonymy:
  • = Syntherisma Walter (1788)
Vernacular Name(s):
Crabgrass; Summer grass
 Description

Annual or perennial, often stoloniferous tufts, of moderate height or low-growing. Leaf-sheath submembranous or stiffly striate, rounded, midrib obvious above. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat to involute, flaccid. Culm erect, or decumbent and rooting at nodes. Inflorescence a panicle of digitate or subdigitate racemes on a short rachis. Racemes slender, secund; rachis 3-angled, or flattened and winged, usually serrate, persistent, bearing along the two abaxial sides, alternate, appressed groups of 2, 3, or rarely solitary spikelets, usually one spikelet of each group ± sessile, and 1–2 shortly pedicelled; spikelets disarticulating below glumes and falling entire at maturity. Spikelets dorsally compressed, lanceolate or elliptic, ± planoconvex, variously pubescent, rarely glabrous, awnless, 2-flowered; lower floret Ø, upper floret ☿. Lower glume minute or 0, upper ≤ lemma of lower floret. Lower floret: lemma usually = spikelet; palea usually a minute scale, or 0. Upper floret: lemma chartaceous to cartilaginous, nerveless, or faintly 3-nerved, glabrous, hyaline margins enfolding palea; palea of similar texture to lemma, nerveless, or faintly 2-nerved; lodicules cuneate, 3-nerved; callus 0; stamens 3; ovary apex glabrous, styles 2, apical, shortly connate below; caryopsis planoconvex, embryo large, to ⅓ length of caryopsis, hilum punctiform.

[From: Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]

 Biostatus
Exotic
Number of species in New Zealand within Digitaria Haller
CategoryNumber
Indigenous (Non-endemic)1
Exotic: Fully Naturalised5
Exotic: Casual1
Total7
 Bibliography
Haller, A. von 1768: Historia Stirpium Indigenarum Helvetiae Inchoata. . Vol. 2. Bern.
Mabberley, D.J. 2008: Mabberley's plant book, a portable dictionary of plants, their classification and uses. Edition 3. Cambridge University Press.