Egyptian crowfoot, Dactyloctenium aegyptium is a fast-growing grass found in subtropical regions. It is often used for erosion control, forage, and soil stabilization.
The plant can grow up to 75cm long and has many branches. Additionally, it can produce up to 60,000 seeds.
Dactyloctenium aegyptium colonizes disturbed areas with light sandy soils, such as near coasts or where water accumulates.
Scientific Classification
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Monocotyledonae
- Subclass: Commelinidae
- Order: Cyperales
- Family: Poaceae
- Genus: Dactyloctenium
- Species: Dactyloctenium aegyptium
- Common Names: Beach wiregrass, coast button grass, crow’s foot, duck grass, Egyptian crowfoot grass, Egyptian grass, finger comb grass.
Nativity and Distribution
The Egyptian crowfoot is native to Africa and Asia. This plant is also found in the following areas:
- Australia (Western Australia, Southern Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Cocos Island, Christmas Island)
- Oceania (West Indies and New Guinea)
- Americas
Physical Appearance
- Leaves: Succulent and crisp leaves 3-25cm long and 3-15mm wide.
- Flowers: Arranged in clusters that resemble a crow’s foot.
- Stems: Thin stems that can erect or bend at the nodes.
- Roots: A fibrous root system.
Egyptian crowfoot’s leaf margins are covered in fine hair, which helps prevent excessive water loss. The leaf blades roll up when young but are flat and light green when mature.
The plant’s stems grow upwards and can attain a height of up to 2 feet. Due to its highly branched stems, the plant has a bushy appearance.
Dactyloctenium aegyptium has a creeping, spreading, and mat-forming growth habit. Stolons may spread outward from the plant and form roots at the nodes.
The flower heads are located at the tip of each stem. Each flowerhead contains between 2 and 7 spikelets. The shape of the seed head resembles a crow’s foot, which is the origin of the plant’s common name.
Lifecycle/Reproduction/Dispersal
- Lifecycle: Annual.
- Seeds: White or brown seeds about 1mm long.
- Climate: Grows best in subtropical or monsoonal climates.
- Dispersal: Wind, water, birds, animals.
A fruit or seed pod structure surrounds and protects the plant’s developing seeds. As the seeds inside fully mature and develop, the encasing fruit or pod will eventually split open, releasing the mature seeds.
The released seeds can be spread by various means, such as wind, running water, animals, and birds.
Once dispersed in environments conducive to growth, seeds germinate as they take in water and start to sprout. The seedling subsequently develops into a mature plant, completing its life cycle.
In addition to seed reproduction, Dactyloctenium aegyptium can propagate asexually through its spreading or creeping stems, which root at their lower nodes.
This vegetative propagation allows the stems to break off and develop into new plants genetically identical to the original.
Uses
According to the National Library of Medicine, the plant has antioxidant properties that help fight oxidative stress.
The grass has been recognized for its ability to suppress fungi, bacteria, and viruses, which makes it beneficial for treating infections.
The grass might contain bioactive substances that aid in reducing blood glucose levels. The plant also has the following uses:
- Used mainly as fodder for all classes of ruminants.
- The plant makes a good annual pasture in dry areas.
- Suitable for silage.
- The plant’s seeds can be milled into flour.
- Seeds can be fed to poultry.
- Has been used to treat smallpox, lumbago, and typhoid.
- The leaf extract is used with sweet bromweed to treat diarrhea.
- It can be used as a fish poison.
- Used as a stabilizer for sandy soils in Australia and for soil erosion control in other areas.
- It can be used for aesthetic purposes in gardens or yards.
Impact on the Environment
The rapid growth of Egyptian crowfoot grass can result in the replacement of indigenous plant species.
This competition could reduce biodiversity and alter habitat structures, impacting the wildlife that relies on native plants for food and shelter.
Control
The following are some of the ways of controlling the Egyptian crowfoot:
1. Mechanical Control
Use these methods to control Egyptian Crowfoot manually:
- Hand pulling: Pulling out young crowfoot grass plants can significantly help manage infestations. Hand weeding is particularly effective before the plants develop seed heads.
- Cultivation: Utilizing farm tools or mechanical cultivators to uproot and bury crowfoot grass can yield good results.
2. Chemical Control
Pre-emergent herbicides that can be used before seeds of Dactyloctenium aegyptium germinate include Oryzalin, Spartan, Oxadiazon, and Pendimethalin.
Post-emergent herbicides that can be used include Glyphosate (a non-selective herbicide that should be used carefully) and Fenoxaprop (which specifically targets grass species).
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.