Status:
valid
Authors:
Goetgh.
Source:
wcs
Year:
1975
Citation Micro:
Bull. Jard. Bot. Natl. Belg. 45: 413 (1975)
WFO Identifier:
wfo-0000864155
Common Names
- Megasthenes Fingergrass
- Megasthenes Digitaria
- Megasthenes Digitgrass
Description
Digitaria megasthenes (also called Megasthenes Fingergrass, among many other common names) is a perennial grass native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It has a clumping habit and grows to a height of up to 1.2 meters. Its leaves are long and narrow, and its flowers are small and yellow. It grows in a variety of habitats, including dry grasslands, open woodlands, and disturbed areas.
Uses & Benefits
Digitaria megasthenes is used as a fodder crop and forage crop. It is also used as a soil-stabilizing plant for erosion control.
Flower, Seeds and Seedlings
The flower of Digitaria megasthenes is yellow in color and has eleven spikelets. The seed is small and brown in color. The seedlings are thin and have eleven leaves.
Cultivation and Propagation
Digitaria megasthenes can be propagated by seed or vegetatively. Seeds should be sown in spring or early summer in a well-drained, sunny location. The seeds should be lightly covered with soil and kept moist. Once the seedlings have emerged, they should be thinned to the desired spacing. Vegetative propagation can be done by division of the clumps or by cuttings taken in spring or early summer. Cuttings should be taken from the tips of the stems and planted in a well-drained, sunny location.
Where to Find Digitaria megasthenes
Digitaria megasthenes is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Digitaria megasthenes FAQ
What is the scientific name of Digitaria megasthenes?
Digitaria megasthenes
What is the family of Digitaria megasthenes?
Poaceae
What is the common name of Digitaria megasthenes?
Megasthenes fingergrass
Species in the Digitaria genus
Digitaria abludens,
Digitaria abyssinica,
Digitaria acuminatissima,
Digitaria adamaouensis,
Digitaria aequiglumis,
Digitaria alleizettei,
Digitaria ammophila,
Digitaria andicola,
Digitaria andringitrensis,
Digitaria angolensis,
Digitaria ankaratrensis,
Digitaria appropinquata,
Digitaria arenicola,
Digitaria argillacea,
Digitaria argyrograpta,
Digitaria argyrotricha,
Digitaria aridicola,
Digitaria aristulata,
Digitaria arushae,
Digitaria asthenes,
Digitaria atra,
Digitaria atrofusca,
Digitaria badia,
Digitaria baileyi,
Digitaria bakeri,
Digitaria balansae,
Digitaria barbinodis,
Digitaria bicornis,
Digitaria bidactyla,
Digitaria bonplandii,
Digitaria brazzae,
Digitaria breedlovei,
Digitaria breviglumis,
Digitaria brownii,
Digitaria brunoana,
Digitaria calcarata,
Digitaria caledonica,
Digitaria californica,
Digitaria cardenasiana,
Digitaria catamarcensis,
Digitaria cayoensis,
Digitaria chacoensis,
Digitaria chaseae,
Digitaria ciliaris,
Digitaria clavitricha,
Digitaria coenicola,
Digitaria cognata,
Digitaria comifera,
Digitaria compacta,
Digitaria complanata,
Species in the Poaceae family
Achnatherum pekinense,
Achnatherum pubicalyx,
Achnatherum sibiricum,
Achnatherum turcomanicum,
Achnatherum brandisii,
Achnatherum bromoides,
Achnatherum calamagrostis,
Achnatherum confusum,
Achnatherum inebrians,
Achnatherum jacquemontii,
Achnatherum virescens,
Achnatherum paradoxum,
Achnatherum nakaii,
Achnatherum pelliotii,
Achnatherum haussknechtii,
Achnatherum mandavillei,
Achnatherum pilosum,
Achnatherum parviflorum,
Achnatherum staintonii,
Aciachne acicularis,
Aciachne flagellifera,
Aciachne pulvinata,
Acidosasa breviclavata,
Acidosasa brilletii,
Acidosasa chinensis,
Acidosasa edulis,
Acidosasa glauca,
Acidosasa guangxiensis,
Acidosasa lingchuanensis,
Acidosasa nanunica,
Acidosasa notata,
Acidosasa purpurea,
Acidosasa venusta,
Acidosasa carinata,
Acostia gracilis,
Acrachne henrardiana,
Acrachne perrieri,
Acrachne racemosa,
Acritochaete volkensii,
Acroceras amplectens,
Acroceras attenuatum,
Acroceras boivinii,
Acroceras bosseri,
Acroceras calcicola,
Acroceras chaseae,
Acroceras diffusum,
Acroceras elegans,
Acroceras excavatum,
Acroceras fluminense,
Acroceras gabunense,
References
POWO record for urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:398962-1: Govaerts R (ed.). 2023. WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants [Version 11]. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [WWW document] URL http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ [accessed 20 April 2023].