Digitaria violascens Link.

Locations ofDigitaria violascens Link. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Digitaria violascens Link.
Common Name
Violet Crabgrass
Synonym(s)
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Not in Flora of Virginia: discovered after its publication
Comments
Known from Metompkin Island, where first collected in 2020, and collections from Chesterfield and York counties in 2023. This Asian exotic is otherwise known further south and west of Virginia, with the exception of outlier occurrences in Massachusetts. This species is very slender and resembles D. filiformis var. filiformis, but has a winged rachis and smaller spikelets. It is probably occurring at additional locations but overlooked among the plethora of Digitaria spp. populations on the landscape.
Habitat
Well-established in moist interdunal swale at the southern end of Metompkin Island; damp clay depression in logging road through pine plantation in se. Chesterfield Co. The Metompkin Island site is a relatively diverse and shrub-free habitat, likely affected by occasional flooding due to spring tides or dune overwash; the Chesterfield site is typical of large, disturbed areas in the inner Coastal Plain and outer Piedmont. Given the extent of similar habitats in the area, the weedy nature of Digitaria, and the lack of interest by botanists in collecting this genus, this species is likely more widely distributed.
Native Status
Introduced

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