Purple crabgrass (Digitaria violascens, Hort. Berol. 1: 229 (1827))

Family: Poaceae

Author: Link

Bibliography: Hort. Berol. 1: 229 (1827)

Year: 1827

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Digitaria

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to N. & E. Australia

Description

Purple crabgrass, known scientifically as Digitaria violascens, is a significant grass species found across a wide expanse of tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, stretching to northern and eastern parts of Australia. Belonging to the Poaceae family, this plant was first documented in 1827 by the renowned botanist Link in his seminal work, Hortus Berolinensis.

This robust grass species thrives in warm climates, where it can often be seen in an array of environments ranging from disturbed lands and roadsides to cultivated fields. Its resilience and adaptability make it a common sight across its native ranges.

Digitaria violascens exhibits distinctive features that aid in its identification. The grass forms dense clumps with trailing stems that root at the nodes, allowing it to spread effectively across the soil surface. Its leaves are typically green to purple-tinged, which adds to its common name, “purple crabgrass.” The plant produces small, purplish seeds that facilitate rapid proliferation.

As a member of the Poaceae family, purple crabgrass is closely related to many other economically and ecologically important grass species. However, due to its aggressive growth habits, it is often considered a weed, particularly in agricultural settings where it can compete with crops for nutrients and space.

Understanding the dynamics of Digitaria violascens and its interactions with other plant species is crucial for managing its spread in both natural and farmed environments. Given its widespread presence and robust nature, ongoing research and observation remain essential in tracing its ecological impacts and devising effective management strategies.

In summary, Digitaria violascens or purple crabgrass is a pervasive and hardy grass species noted for its vibrant purple hues and aggressive growth form. Found throughout tropical and subtropical Asia to parts of Australia, it represents both a botanical curiosity and a management challenge within the native flora where it is found.

Common Names

Eng: violet crabgrass, purple crabgrass
Deu: violette fingerhirse
Por: capim-colchão-fino, capim-de-roça, capim-do-viveiro, capim-milhã, milhã-violeta
En: Purple crabgrass, Violet crabgrass, Violet Crab Grass
Fr: Digitaire glabre, Digitaire filiforme
De: Violette Fingerhirse
Pt: Capim-colchão-fino, Capim-de-roça, Capim-do-viveiro, Capim-milhã, Milhã-violeta

Synonyms

• Digitaria caespitosa (Ridl.)
• Digitaria fusca ((J.Presl) Merr.)
• Digitaria digitata (Buse)
• Panicum digitatum ((Buse) Hook.f. ex Koord.)
• Digitaria recta (Hughes)
• Panicum pertenue var. glabrum (Boerl.)
• Panicum violascens var. glabrescens (Döll)
• Digitaria ropalotricha var. villosa ((Keng) Tuyama)
• Paspalum minutiflorum (Steud.)
• Syntherisma fusca ((J.Presl) Scribn.)
• Digitaria ischaemum var. lasiophylla ((Honda) Ohwi)
• Syntherisma ischaemum var. lasiophylla (Honda)
• Digitaria thwaitesii var. tonkinensis (Henrard)
• Panicum pertenue ((Buse) Boerl.)
• Panicum steudelianum (Domin)
• Digitaria ischaemum var. violascens ((Link) Radford)
• Digitaria pseudodurva (Nees ex Schltdl.)
• Digitaria bogoriensis (Ohwi)
• Digitaria pertenuis var. glabra ((Boerl.) Ohwi)
• Panicum pseudodurva var. majus (Nees)
• Digitaria pertenuis (Buse)
• Reimaria purpurascens (Link)
• Panicum pseudodurva (Nees)
• Panicum violascens var. remotiusculum (Döll)
• Digitaria violascens var. intersita ((Ohwi) Ohwi)
• Paspalum pertenue ((Buse) Backer)
• Paspalum pseudodurva (Nees ex Baker)
• Syntherisma violascens ((Link) Nash)
• Digitaria violascens var. lasiophylla ((Honda) Tuyama)
• Digitaria violascens var. villosa (Keng)
• Syntherisma helleri (Nash)
• Panicum pseudoischaemum var. elongatum (Boerl.)
• Digitaria ischaemum var. asiatica (Ohwi)
• Syntherisma chinensis ((Nees) Hitchc.)
• Paspalum fuscum (J.Presl)
• Panicum violascens ((Link) Kunth)
• Paspalum chinense (Nees)
• Digitaria ischaemum var. intersita (Ohwi)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Andaman Is. (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kazan-retto (native)
• Korea (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New South Wales (native)
• Northern Territory (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Queensland (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Caroline Is. (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• French Guiana (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guyana (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Marquesas (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Paraguay (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Society Is. (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Suriname (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Wallis-Futuna Is. (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

Fruit

Taken Apr 17, 2019 by OTS – J. González (cc-by-nc-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289995)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:399226-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Digitaria violascens Link)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Graminoid

Growth