Definition

Noun: * A European forage grass (Digitaria sanguinalis) cultivated for hay, which has become a widespread, naturalized weed in the United States and other regions.

Usage

This is a specific botanical term used to identify a particular species of grass. It is primarily used in agricultural, horticultural, and ecological contexts. * It functions as a common name for the plant species Digitaria sanguinalis. * It is often discussed in terms of its dual role as a cultivated forage crop and an invasive weed.

Examples

• The field was overrun with large crabgrass, outcompeting the desired lawn grasses.
• Farmers in some regions still grow large crabgrass as a summer forage crop for livestock.
• Effective management of large crabgrass is a common challenge for gardeners and turf professionals.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in comparative discussions about weed species: "Unlike smooth crabgrass, large crabgrass has hairs on its leaf sheaths."
• In ecological writing, it may be described as a "naturalized" or "adventive" species, indicating its non-native but established status.

Variants and Related Words

• Hairy crabgrass: Another common name for the same species (), referring to the hairy characteristics of its leaves and stems.
• Crabgrass: The general common name for plants in the genus , which includes both large crabgrass and smooth crabgrass ().
• Digitaria sanguinalis: The formal botanical (Latin) name for the species.

Synonyms

• Hairy crabgrass
• Summer grass (a general name in some regions for fast-growing, warm-season annual grasses)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• No direct idioms or phrasal verbs are associated with this specific botanical term.

Noun

1. a European forage grass grown for hay; a naturalized weed in United States