| Author | (Retzius) Koeler | |
| Distribution | Probably statewide. This is a native species that was for decades lumped within Digitaria sanguinalis, an alien. Some records of D. "sanguinalis" may actually belong to D. ciliaris, but specimens need to be re-examined. The range map below may be somewhat incomplete, but there seem to be few specimens from the northeastern counties.
VA to NE, south to FL and NM. | |
| Abundance | Common to abundant over most of the state. Collectively, this species and D. sanguinalis are abundant statewide. | |
| Habitat | Open sandy to loamy soils of disturbed areas: roadsides, woodland clearings, powerlines, scrapes, ditches, etc. True native habitat unknown. |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting August-October. | |
| Identification | Southern Crabgrass is closely allied to D. sanguinalis, differing in having longer spikelets (2.8-4.1 mm long vs. 1.7-3.4 mm long in the alien species), lateral veins of the lower lemmas smooth throughout or scabrous on the outer 1/3 (vs. scabrous on the outer 2/3 at least in D. sanguinalis). | |
| Taxonomic Comments | For decades this species was lumped under D. sanguinalis.
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| Other Common Name(s) | None | |
| State Rank | S5 | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | FACU link |
| USACE-emp | FAC link |
