New Digitaria milanjiana

Arthur Cameron, Principal Pastures Agronomist, Darwin.

New Digitaria milanjiana

During a visit to Douglas Daly Research Farm (DDRF) in late November, Technical Officer Christine Hazel showed me what she thought was a new Digitaria in the horse paddocks at the Research Station.

I was excited to find that Chrissie had discovered a new Digitaria milanjiana. In appearance, the new line appears to be a natural hybrid between Jarra and Arnhem finger grasses. It has smooth green leaves, which are narrower than those of Jarra and it produces stolons. It lacks the hairiness and purple coloration found in Jarra.

Over the years Arnhem, Jarra and Strickland finger grasses have all been planted in these horse paddocks. While Chrissie grass looks like a hybrid between Arnhem and Jarra, it could be a natural mutation from any of the 3 grasses present.

Peter Shotton from DDRF has been planting a patch of this grass on the Blain soil in the Irrigation Paddock at DDRF. We will monitor seed production from this plot and check the seed for germination next wet season.