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Digitaria setigera

Roth (1817)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Digitaria

itchy crabgrass, kūkaepua‘a [kukaepuaa], mau‘u kūkaepua‘a [mauu kukaepuaa]

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual Herb.

Stems: Culms geniculately ascending from a decumbent base.

Roots: Roots fibrous.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades linear to lanceolate, 3-25 cm long, 3-12 mm wide. Surfaces moderately to densely stiff-pubescent. Veins parallel. Sheaths sparsely to densely stiff-pubescent; ligule 1.5-3 mm long, truncate, erose. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Inflorescences composed of 3-15 racemes arranged on a common axis, 1-6 cm long, or digitate in smaller plants, racemes 4-15 cm long; spikelets in pairs, imbricate, rachis trigonous, winged, sometimes with a few long, glistening hairs; spikelets lanceolate first lemma as long as the spikelet, 7-nerved, the nerves evenly spaced or with a wide central interval, appressed pubescent or silky pubescent, rarely ciliate or with stiff bristles; palea as long as lemma.

Fruit: Fruit a caryopsis

Ploidy: 2n = 18; 36; 54; 72

Habitat: Occurring in disturbed areas in mesic forest; fields and pastures; and along roadsides.

Elevation Range: 10–980 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Accepted Subtaxa (in Hawai'i) (1)

Digitaria setigera var. setigera

Uses and Culture

USES

  • For ‘ea and pa‘ao‘ao the young leaf buds are masticated with niu (coconut, Cocos nucifera) and used as a pugative. For lua‘i a koko and hikoko the leaves, stalk, and leaf buds are used; this may be followed by ‘alaea clay, mai‘a iholena (Musa

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Indigenous
Kaua'i Indigenous
O'ahu Indigenous
Molokai Indigenous
Lana'i Indigenous
Maui Indigenous
Hawai'i Indigenous

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes, Syst. Veg., ed. 15 bis 2: 474 (1817)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Digitaria setigera W Maui In moderately wet pineapple field. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 494 Maui BISH 1931-08-10
2 Digitaria setigera Koolau Mts, Wiliwilinui Trail Along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 95 Oahu BISH 1966-05-21
3 Digitaria setigera Honolulu, Tantalus road Weed on roadside Preserved_Specimen Kukaipuaa Wong, R. Oahu BISH 1940-11-13
4 Digitaria setigera Olomana Aleurites forest Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. Oahu BISH 1924-11-26
5 Digitaria setigera Kohala Ditch Trail, Pololu Valley Along trail. Preserved_Specimen Lee, H.A. 99 Hawaii BISH 1924-10-20
6 Digitaria setigera Mt Tantalus In rain forest. Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 3894 Oahu BISH 1935-11-23
7 Digitaria setigera Honolulu; Manoa Valley Roadside Preserved_Specimen Merrill 24 Oahu BISH 1924-08-01
8 Digitaria setigera Waianae District, waianae Mts, ca. 2 mi up from last gate on rd leading to Mt Kaala At edge of water-filled ditch. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 141 Oahu BISH 1966-06-11
9 Digitaria setigera Kipapa Gulch Along rd side. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 899 Oahu BISH 1933-01-15
10 Digitaria setigera S Kona, Keauhou, Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Co Orchard. Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4151 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-08
11 Digitaria setigera End of Hilina Pali Rd, ca. 1.5 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. Located ca. 10 m from a sharp hairpin turn in trail, & just below a small forest of trees. (plot 46a) Near 2 large Metrosideros trees. Very open Metrosideros-Diospyros forest on aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Grass ca. 6 in tall. Newell, C.L. 434 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-18
12 Digitaria setigera End of Hilina Pali Rd, ca. 0.7 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. At left of trail just before first switchback. (plot 46b) Dwarf shrub & grass community in fine ash pockets. Preserved_Specimen Grass ca. 1 ft tall. Newell, C.L. 777 Hawaii BISH 1966-09-03
13 Digitaria setigera Kohala District, In cane fields. Preserved_Specimen Spreading weed. Barnum, C.C. 84 Hawaii BISH 1924-09-22
14 Digitaria setigera Hana, Wakiu Roadside Preserved_Specimen Culms decumbent at base. St.John, H. 17854 Maui BISH 1936-12-30
15 Digitaria setigera Half-way house on Mt Tantalus Rich, shady soil. Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. Oahu BISH 1916-06-24
16 Digitaria setigera Half-way House on Mount Tantalus Rich, shady soil Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 13862 Oahu BISH 1916-06-24
17 Digitaria setigera Kaleakekua, Kona, Judge Thompson's yard yard Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4165 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-11
18 Digitaria setigera End of Hilina Pali Rd, ca. 1.5 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. Located ca. 10 m from a sharp hairpin turn in trail, & just below a small forest of trees. (plot 46a) Near 2 large Metrosideros trees. Very open Metrosideros-Diospyros forest on aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Grass about 3 in tall. Newell, C.L. 272 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-02
19 Digitaria setigera By Boys Industrial School Near taro patches. Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4081 Oahu BISH 1936-03-03
20 Digitaria setigera Wainiha bay park, roadside Sea level, windy area right across from beach, dry, sunny, from sand Preserved_Specimen One clump Faccenda, K. 2438 Kauai BISH 2022-05-30
21 Digitaria setigera Koele, near abandoned reservoir In partial shade. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28508 Lanai BISH 1963-07-30
22 Digitaria setigera Near pali of Nanahoa Found in a moist situation. Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4459 Molokai BISH 1936-09-03
23 Digitaria setigera Waialua District, Koolau Mts, Kawai Iki Ditch Trail Common in shaded, moist area along trail. Assoc with Metrosideros, Aleurites, Scaevola, koa, Wikstroemia, Dicranopteris. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 86 Oahu BISH 1966-04-30
24 Digitaria setigera Hawi In cane fields. Preserved_Specimen Weed. O.5-1.0 m tall. Barnum, C.C. 71 Hawaii BISH 1924-10-01
25 Digitaria setigera End of Hilina Pali Rd, ca. 1.5 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. Located ca. 10 m from a sharp hairpin turn in trail, & just below a small forest of trees. (plot 46a) Near 2 large Metrosideros trees. Very open Metrosideros-Diospyros forest on aa lava. Preserved_Specimen Grass ca. 6 in tall. Newell, C.L. 957 Hawaii BISH 1967-06-22
26 Digitaria setigera Koolau Mts, Wiliwilinui Trail Along roadside. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 95 Oahu BISH 1966-05-21
27 Digitaria setigera Half-way house on Mt Tantalus Rich, shady soil. Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. Oahu BISH 1916-06-24
28 Digitaria setigera Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hui-O-Pele shelter Common in dry open roadside. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 272 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-15
29 Digitaria setigera Puna District, along hwy betw Kaimu & Opihikau Growing at edge of Pandanus grove. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 5530 Hawaii BISH 1975-10-22
30 Digitaria setigera Near Limahuli Stream, makai of Kuhio Hwy Occasional in sunny, exposed sites in abandoned taro terraces. Assoc with Desmodium canum, Paspalum conjugatum, & Commelina diffusa. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3854 Kauai BISH 1988-05-28
31 Digitaria setigera W Maui In moderately wet pineapple field. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 495 Maui BISH 1931-08-10
32 Digitaria setigera Lower slopes in Nualolo Valey, Na Pali Coast Lower dry slopes. Preserved_Specimen Occasional grass. Cuddihy, L.W. 358 Kauai BISH 1979-07-18
33 Digitaria setigera East Maui, Makawao District, Ulupalakua In dry pasture, by rocky gully. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1790 Maui BISH 1937-04-08
34 Digitaria setigera Honolulu; Manoa, slopes of Round Top, above old Castle Home In grassland, mauka part of haole koa zone. Preserved_Specimen Egler, F.E. 37155 Oahu BISH 1937-05-16
35 Digitaria setigera Puna, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Papio St. WGS84 coordinates: Lat. 19.555259, Long.-154.880039 Roadside, with Scaevola and trailing daisy. Mixed with pangola, rare in area Preserved_Specimen unusual to see this with spreading iinflorescence branches Faccenda, K. 3290 Hawaii BISH 2024-01-07
36 Digitaria setigera Makiki Hts On moist ridge. Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4017 Oahu BISH 1936-01-07
37 Digitaria setigera Waianae Mts., gulch above Puu Hapapa Very common in low area just before reaching kukui grove. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 72 Oahu BISH 1966-04-23
38 Digitaria setigera Windward side of island, Anapuhi to Wainene long coastal boulder-strewn beach with vertical cliff at back 10--30m from water. Cliff with Artemisia australis, Chenopodium oahuense, Schiedea globosa, Kalanchoe pinnata, Tetramolopium sylvae, Lythrum maritimum, and Hedyotis littoralis, among others Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5749 Molokai BISH 1987-08-01
39 Digitaria setigera Wailau Valley Grassy slopes. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13199 Molokai BISH 1933-07-03
40 Digitaria setigera End of Hilina Pali Rd, ca. 0.7 mi down Hilina Pali Switchback Trail. At left of trail just before first switchback. (plot 46b) Dwarf shrub & grass community in fine ash pockets. Preserved_Specimen Grass ca. 1 ft tall. Newell, C.L. 769 Hawaii BISH 1966-09-03
41 Digitaria setigera East Maui, Alau Island, E most coast Growing with Digitaria adscendens & Portulaca oleracea. Preserved_Specimen 2-2.5 ft tall plants. Hobdy, R.W. 1301 Maui BISH 1982-03-07
42 Digitaria setigera Makapuu Point Very dry rocky cliff near the sea Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4205 Oahu BISH 1936-06-15
43 Digitaria setigera Piiholo, Makawao Common in pasture Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1775 Maui BISH 1937-01-30
44 Digitaria setigera Tantalus, along Tantalus Rd near trailhead for Makiki Loop Connection. Partly sunny roadside. Crack from asphalt. Uncommon in this area, not many areas sunny enough for it Preserved_Specimen Faccenda, K. 2055 Oahu BISH 2021-07-14
45 Digitaria setigera Waianae Mts., gulch above Puu Hapapa Very common in low area just before reaching kukui grove. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 72 Oahu BISH 1966-04-23
46 Digitaria setigera Olinda, Makawao, Piiholo Common in pasture. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1776 Maui BISH 1937-01-30
47 Digitaria setigera Kaunakakai Preserved_Specimen Grows amongst 17 at same elevation, grows plentifuly, but does not provide a great deal of feed Munro, G.C. 40 Molokai BISH 1903-02-01
48 Digitaria setigera Iao Valley Preserved_Specimen Lyon, H.L. 15 Maui BISH 1924-11-13
49 Digitaria setigera Kalaupapa; Waikolu, ridge above forest bird station 2 Preserved_Specimen annual grass Hughes, G.D. 1125 Molokai BISH 2005-03-29
50 Digitaria setigera Above Kukuihaele, near cane fields Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 4540 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-18
51 Digitaria setigera Mouth of Waipio Valley Grassy area at edge of beach, assoc. with Schinus, Psidium, Osteomeles. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. 237 Hawaii BISH 1966-08-11
52 Digitaria setigera Mt. Haupu, Kipu side in Metrosideros-Pandanus lowland mesic forest with Rauvolfia sandwicensis, Alyxia oliviformis, Sadleria, Psydrax odorata, Xylosma hawaiiense, Bobea elatior, Psidium cattleianum, Cordyline, Lantana camara, Blechnum occidentale, Schinus terebinthifolius. On steep hillside with Lipochaeta micrantha. Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 3651 Kauai BISH 1994-10-20
53 Digitaria setigera Makiki Heights Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4016 Oahu BISH 1936-01-12
54 Digitaria setigera Milolii Valley on the Na Pali coast Coastal Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. 402 Kauai BISH 1979-07-19
55 Digitaria setigera Wailau Valley, N coast, East Molokai Stream bank, wet lower forest. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 9605 Molokai BISH 1933-07-03
56 Digitaria setigera Hana, Wakiu Roadside Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 17856 Maui BISH 1936-12-30
57 Digitaria setigera Ka Loko Reservoir (Kilauea) Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 582 Kauai BISH 1916-10-12
58 Digitaria setigera In & on the slopes of Makiki Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. Oahu BISH 1895-03-21
59 Digitaria setigera Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 276 Lanai BISH 1913-11-12
60 Digitaria setigera South Kona, near Kealakekua Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4148 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-08
61 Digitaria setigera Kaiholena Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 222 Lanai BISH 1913-11-12
62 Digitaria setigera Above Kukuihaele, near cane fields Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 4543 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-18
63 Digitaria setigera Honopu Beach Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Kauai BISH 1984-07-19
64 Digitaria setigera Miki Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 548 Lanai BISH 1930-04-29
65 Digitaria setigera Kamuela Preserved_Specimen Goff, R.A. 22 Hawaii BISH 1928-07-17
66 Digitaria setigera Makua Valley, Top of ridge Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4064 Oahu BISH 1935-11-17
67 Digitaria setigera East Maui, S slope of Haleakala, Lualailua Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2028 Maui BISH 1920-03-19
68 Digitaria setigera East Maui, S slope of Haleakala, Auwahi Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2103 Maui BISH 1920-03-24
69 Digitaria setigera Above Kukuihaele, near cane fields Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 4539 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-18
70 Digitaria setigera Near Hilo, found on Shipmans Ranch Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4128 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-04
71 Digitaria setigera Mokuleia Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 11471 Oahu BISH 1937-09-24
72 Digitaria setigera [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; Molokai; Hawaii; Maui Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 13199 Molokai BISH 1933-07-08
73 Digitaria setigera In & on the slopes of Makiki Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. Oahu BISH 1895-03-21
74 Digitaria setigera Waianae Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. Oahu BISH 1936-06-17
75 Digitaria setigera Hilina Pali Preserved_Specimen Fagerlund, G.O. 153 Hawaii BISH 1942-11-12
76 Digitaria setigera Makahalau paddock, Waimea, Hamakua Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 2175 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-02
77 Digitaria setigera [Hawaiian Islands; U.S.A.; O`ahu; Hawai`i; Honolulu] Preserved_Specimen Didrichsen, D.F. 3444 Oahu BISH 1845-01-01
78 Digitaria setigera Pensacola St., Honolulu Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4182 Oahu BISH 1936-04-24
79 Digitaria setigera South Kona, Near Kealakekua Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4150 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-08
80 Digitaria setigera Kukuihaele Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 4545 Hawaii BISH 1909-07-18
81 Digitaria setigera In & on the slopes of Makiki Preserved_Specimen Heller, A.A. Oahu BISH 1895-03-21
82 Digitaria setigera Waipahoehoe, Olaa Preserved_Specimen Ripperton, J.C. Hawaii BISH 1931-02-20
83 Digitaria setigera Kaali Preserved_Specimen Stokes, J.F.G. Niihau BISH 1912-01-01
84 Digitaria setigera Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Andersson, N.J. Hawaii BISH 1852-01-01
85 Digitaria setigera unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. BISH 1864-01-01
86 Digitaria setigera S Kona, city of refuge Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4149 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-08
87 Digitaria setigera East Maui, Hana Preserved_Specimen Handy, E.S. 3324 Maui BISH 1933-06-27
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