The Tortoise Club

Plant Name:

Crabgrass

Latin Name:

Digitaria sanguinalis

Plant Type:

Grass

Edible Part:

Grass

About

Crabgrass is a species of grass known by several common names, including hairy crabgrass, hairy finger-grass, large crabgrass, crab finger grass, and purple crabgrass. It is one of the better-known species of the genus Digitaria, and is most known as a common weed. It grows very quickly, even in poor soils. While most humans hate this plant, it is very well loved by tortoises. There is a report that leaves might be cyanogenic, meaning that hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is released from these compounds following enzymatic hydrolysis causing potential toxicity issues.