# Durban Crowfoot (*Dactyloctenium aegyptium*)

Durban Crowfoot is a grassy plant that grows close to the ground. It has long, thin leaves and can be found in many sunny places, making it a great spot for little critters to hide!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 2
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Durban Crowfoot](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dactyloctenium_aegyptium_0001.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Atamari, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dactyloctenium_aegyptium_0001.jpg)

## Appearance

The Durban Crowfoot is a sprawling green grass with distinctive seed heads resembling a bird's foot. Each head has 3-7 short, thick spikes radiating outwards, often tinged purplish-brown. Its slender leaves are flat and smooth, forming dense mats on the ground.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Dactyloctenium

## Interesting facts

- Durban Crowfoot can sprout and grow in less than a week after a good rain!
- Farmers in some dry regions actually value it as emergency animal fodder.
- Its tiny seeds were once ground into flour to make bread in times of scarcity!
- This grass is often called 'Crowfoot Grass' because its seed heads look like a bird's foot.

## Special abilities

- **Thirsty Survivor:** Durban Crowfoot has strong roots and a waxy coating that helps it survive even when there's not much water.
- **Fast Carpet:** Durban Crowfoot can grow very quickly, forming a thick green mat that helps it outcompete other plants for sunlight.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-60 cm
- **Spread:** 20-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to Fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Fall Armyworm (*Spodoptera frugiperda*) — larvae feed on its leaves
- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — grazing animals consume its foliage
- **Eats:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — birds feed on its abundant seeds

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Durban Crowfoot?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Durban Crowfoot?

10-60 cm

### How wide does Durban Crowfoot spread?

20-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Durban Crowfoot?

0.1-0.5 cm

### When does Durban Crowfoot bloom?

Summer to Fall

### Is Durban Crowfoot edible?

Yes

### Is Durban Crowfoot toxic?

None

### What is Durban Crowfoot's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Houston Arboretum and Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/houston-arboretum-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden
- [Luverne Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/luverne-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Durban Crowfoot: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/durban-crowfoot)