Crabgrass - smooth/large
There are 2 types of crabgrass common in Ontario, smooth and large crabgrass.
Scientific Name: Smooth crab grass, Digitaria ischaemum (Schreb) Muhl, Large crabgrass Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.
Other Names: Smooth crabgrass is also called DIGIS, digitaire astringente, Finger grass, Small crab grass, digitaire glabre. Large crabgrass is also called digitaire sanguine, Finger grass, Hairy crabgrass, digitaire pourpre, panic sanguin
Family: Grass Family (Gramineae)
General Description: Annual, reproducing only by seed.
Habitat: Both kinds of crab grass are common in southern Ontario but they also occur sporadically in northern and north-western Ontario. Both occur in row crops and other fields, waste places, gardens and lawns.
Seedlings
- The first leaf blade is lance-shaped to linear
- Large crabgrass seedlings are upright
- Leaves are rolled in the bud
- No auricles
- Jagged membranous ligule
- Stiff hairs on the blade and sheath
Stems
Smooth Crabgrass | Large Crabgrass |
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Leaves
Smooth Crabgrass | Large Crabgrass |
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Flowers
Smooth Crabgrass | Large Crabgrass |
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Often Confused With
Goosegrass (Goosegrass is similar in overall growth habit, but goosegrass’ leaves are folded in the bud, crabgrass’ are rolled)
Southern Crabgrass (Southern crabgrass has hairs on the sheaths but lacks hairs on the blades and is only common in the south-eastern Untied States)
Dallisgrass Seedlings (Unlike crabgrass, dallisgrass has rhizomes and the leaves of the more mature plant lack hairs)