Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Linnaeus) Willdenow
(Durban Crowfoot)


Family: Poaceae

Status: Exotic

Synonyms:
None

Dactyloctenium aegyptium is an annual exotic grass that shows up in disturbed fields. The inflorescence is a panicle with three to six 2-3 cm long spike-like branches all attached at the top of the stem. The spikelets have just a few (usually 2-3) florets. The spikelets are arranged in two rows on the underside of the branches. The second glumes and lemmas may have short awns. The leaf sheath and base of the blade have long hairs.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, fertile culm, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 1x macro of adaxial (top) view of digitate branches of panicle, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 1x macro of adaxial (top) view of digitate branches of panicle, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 1x macro of abaxial (bottom) view of digitate branches of panicle, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 3x macro of hairs at margin of leaf blade and sheath, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014



Dactyloctenium aegyptium, 5x macro of spikelets, photo Russ Kleinman, in gravel at edge of sports field in Pinos Altos, October 22, 2014


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