Digitaria ischaemum
Smooth Crabgrass is a
low, spreading grass
which is common in fields,
waste areas, and lawns. This grass is light green
in color when young, with parts turning reddish-purple as it
ages. Smooth Crabgrass grows as
a rosette,
meaning it is rooted in the center with leaves and stems
spreading outwards. Leaves grow one to three inches
long. An older plant can grow
up to about 15 inches tall, but usually they are much
shorter. Smooth Crabgrass was
introduced
in America from Europe. Virginia Tech Smooth Crabgrass
flowers
are tiny and have no petals. They grow on spikes rising
straight up from the plant. Flowers bloom from July
to October. The seeds
of crabgrass are eaten by many animals, including Mourning
Dove, Northern Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Brown-headed Cowbird,
Dark-eyed Junco, and sparrows. Eastern Cottontails eat the
leaves.
Virginia
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