Gramineae

Silver finger grass

Panicoideae; Panicodae; Paniceae.

Digitaria argyrograpta is endemic to southern Africa, occurring only in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It occurs in savanna, grassland and Nama-Karoo biomes as natural pasture.

A short densely tufted, perennial grass with rhizomatous culms, 200-600 mm tall. Rhizomes knotty, culms profusely branched from lower nodes. Leaf blades 1-3 mm wide and 40-200 mm long. Racemes usually in pairs (sometimes 3) 40-100 mm long, adhering to each other when hairs become entangled, unequal lengths. Spikelets 2-3 mm long, covered with silky white hairs.

Very palatable grass with a good leaf production, well utilised in the growing season.

Chromosome base number, x = 9.

C₄ photosynthetic pathway.

Not toxic.

A good grazing grass that is favoured by blue wildebeest. Occurs in open habitats within savanna, woodland and thicket where the rainfall is less than 600 mm. Is a climax species of the Great Karoo (Zacharias 1991).

Most types of soil, but usually stony soil or soil with high clay content.

Digitaria argyrograpta is utilized as a native pasture species. Multiplies rapidly from seed in natural rangeland, although it is does not do so readily in propagation.

A summer-growing species that flowers anytime from November to March.

None known

Sensitive to overgrazing

Gibbs-Russell, G.E., Watson, L., Koekemoer, M., Smook, L. Barker, N.P., Anderson, H.M., Dallwitz, M.J. 1989. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa, No. 58, National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.

Van Wyk, E. & Van Oudtshoorn, F. 1999. Guide to grasses of southern Africa. Briza Publications, Arcadia, South Africa.

Zacharias, P.J.K. 1991. Acocks' Notes: key grasses of South Africa. Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Howick.