Finger-grasses

Common Thatching-grass Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass Common Thatching-grass



Grasses - Poaceae

Hairy Finger-grass      Digitaria sanguinalis

Native to the Mediterranean Region, eastwards through Central Asia to China, India and south-east Asia. Plants 10-60cm in height and typically forming sprawling tufts. Leaf blades 3-10mm wide, flat, hairless or hairy. Leaf sheaths typically downy to hairy but sometimes smooth. Ligules membranous, 1-2mm long. Flower spike with 4-10 branches, emerging close together but eventually spreading out broadly. Spikelets 2.5-3.3mm, each with two florets, arranged in pairs, on one side of the main stem. Upper glume (nearest the main stem) usually less than a half the length of the lower lemma; lemmas with flattened hairs. Florets typically narrower and more pointed than those of Smooth Finger-grass.

Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass
Habit
Flower spike
Flower spike
Early spikelets
Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass Hairy Finger-grass
Back of flower spike
Flowering spikelets
Leaf ligule
Leaf ligule


Water Finger-grass      Paspalum distichum

Native throughout much of the New World but widley introduced throughout warm temperate and tropical parts of the Old World. Typically along the margins of wetlands and damp areas with stems often creeping out across the water surface.

Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass
Flower spike
Flower spike
Spikelets
Spikelets
Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass Water Finger-grass
Basal leaves
Leaf base and stem
Leaf base
Leaf ligule


Common Thatching-grass      Hyparrhenia hirta

Native throughout Africa, the Mediterranean region and Middle East, including the Canary Islands.

Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass
Habit
Flower spike
Flower spike
Florets
Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass Common Thatching-grass
Basal leaves
Leaf base and stem
Leaf base
Leaf ligule


Common Bermuda-grass      Cynodon dactylon

Found throughout the world and probably native to the warm temperate and tropical Old World regions.

Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass
Habit
Flowering spike
Flowering spike
Flowering spikelets
Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass Bermuda-grass
Stem and leaf bases
Creeping stem and leaves
Leaves
Leaf ligule and stem


Indian Wire-grass      Eleusine indica

(Yard-grass) Native to sub-saharan Africa, through the Middle East to South-east Asia. Widely introduced elsewhere as a weed of well-trodden places.

Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass
Flower spike
Flower spike
Flowering spike
Flowering spikelets
Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass Indian Wire-grass
Flowering spikelets
Back of flower spike
Leaf base and stem
Leaf base and stem