Digitaria gayana
(Kunth) Stapf. ex A Chev.
Annual purple fingergrass
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Description
An annual grass. It grows up to 40 cm high. It can form clumps. The leaf blade is 3-7 cm long by about 0.5 cm wide. The leaf surface is slightly rough. The flowering stalks have 2-3 side stalks with flowers along them. These are 6-13 cm long.
Edible Uses
The shoots are edible.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in disturbed land on sandy soil. It can grow on coastal sands.
Where It Grows
Africa, Botswana, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia, Sahel, Senegal, Southern Africa, Sudan, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
Notes
There are about 250 Digitaria species.
Synonyms
Digitaria elegantula MezPanicum didymostachyum Steud.Panicum gayanum Kunth
Also Known As
Gaji
References (2)
- Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 75
- Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 194
