Definition

Noun: 1. Any of various grasses belonging to the genus Chloris, characterized by their finger-like flower spikes. They are commonly found in short grasslands, particularly in disturbed or poor-quality soils. 2. Any of various grasses with creeping stems (stolons or rhizomes) that root freely at the nodes. This growth habit makes them a common and invasive pest in lawns and turf.

Usage and Examples

• The finger grass (Chloris gayana), also known as Rhodes grass, is an important forage crop in some regions.
• The botanist identified the weed spreading across the lawn as a type of finger grass.
• Finger grass can quickly colonize bare patches in a lawn due to its creeping stems.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in agricultural and horticultural contexts to describe weedy grasses that are difficult to control.
• In ecological descriptions, "finger grass" may refer to pioneer species that establish in degraded or compacted soils.

Variants and Related Words

• Windmill grass (Chloris truncata): A specific and common species of finger grass, named for the arrangement of its seed heads.
• Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.): While not a true "finger grass" of the genus , crabgrass is often colloquially referred to as finger grass due to its similar low-growing, spreading habit and status as a lawn pest.

Synonyms

• Creeping grass
• Spreading grass (descriptive of the growth habit)
• Weedy grass (in the context of lawns)

Different Meanings

The term "finger grass" has two primary botanical meanings: 1. A taxonomic reference to grasses in the genus Chloris. 2. A descriptive reference to the growth form of any grass that spreads via creeping stems, becoming a lawn weed. This is the more common usage in gardening and landscaping.

Noun

1. any grass of the genus Chloris; occurs in short grassland especially on waste ground or poor soils
2. grasses with creeping stems that root freely; a pest in lawns