Gramineae

D. trichopodia Stent
D. uniglumis (A. Rich.) Stapf

Brown seed finger grass

Panicoideae; Panicodae; Paniceae.

Digitaria diagonalis var. diagonalis is endemic to southern Africa and grows in open, usually sour grassland, hillsides and damp places. It usually grows in shallow soil. There are two other varieties, var. hirsuta and var. uniplumis, which are found in tropical east and west Africa.

A tufted, perennial grass with unbranched culms, 400-1,500 mm tall. Culms swollen and bulbous at the base. Leaf blades 2-3 mm wide and 90-170 mm long with a prominent midrib. Ligule an unfringed membrane. Basal leaf sheaths are usually silky hairy breaking up into fibres. The nodes often have shades of purple and are surrounded by white inconspicuous hairs. Inflorescence a panicle that is 50-300 mm long. Spikelets in groups of three on unequal pedicels with 10-15 white setae as long as or longer than spikelets. The female fertile florets are bright dark brown or black. The spikelets are 1.4-2.4 mm long and 1 mm wide.

This grass is grazed in the young stages, but has low leaf production. It is an indicator of heavy grazing in the past and is, therefore, useful in determining the condition of the vegetation.

Chromosome base number, x = 9

C₄ photosynthetic pathway. Biochemical type XyMS-. PCR cell chloroplasts are centrifugal/peripheral.

Not toxic

D. diagonalis var. diagonalis grows in sourveld grassland at various altitudes and annual rainfall of greater than 500 mm. It prefers open hillsides and damp places in savanna and grassland areas. It is a climax species that becomes locally dominant or occurs with Hyparrhenia hirta, Themeda triandra and various other grasses typical of sourveld.

It grows in areas with sandy soil, drenched soil and in soil with underlying rock.

D. diagonalis is utilized as a native pasture species.

A summer-growing species that flowers anytime from December to April in southern Africa.

None known

It is a species with average to low grazing value, because the leaves are fairly hard and unpalatable despite good leaf production.

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.