18 



BULLETIN 65, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 



No. 16. DIGITARIA SANGUINALIS, SYNTHERISMA SANGUINALIS (6, p. 176) 

 Common names: Crabgrass, kukaipuaa 



Originally described from Europe (6, p. 175), Digitaria sanguinalis 

 is well distributed over all the Tropics and the warmer parts of the 

 Temperate Zones. It is annual and sometimes perennial and makes 

 a more prostrate form of growth than does Digitaria pruriens. D. san- 



Figure 16. — Digitaria sanguinalis 



guinalis roots at the nodes and under favorable conditions the 

 prostrate stems attain a length of 3 feet or more. Under field condi- 

 tions the grass is recognized by its characteristically curled, partly 

 browned leaves, which have a dried appearance in the central part 

 of the clump. Like D. pruriens, it is easily crowded out under 

 continuous grazing, but in a rested paddock quickly reseeds itself. 

 It is relished by all kinds of livestock and under careful management 

 attains considerable importance. It is a common pest in cultivated 

 fields. 



