Which statement describes Smooth crabgrass?

• A. Hairy crabgrass has hairs on leaf surface
• B. Seeds produced on 3-12 fingerlike segments at tip of stem; NO hairs on leaf surface
• C. Has a taproot containing milky juice
• D. Leaves are purple

Answer: (B)

Identifying smooth crabgrass relies on two key features you can observe in the field: leaf surface texture and the seedhead structure. Smooth crabgrass has leaves that are hairless, which distinguishes it from hairy crabgrass that has hairs on the leaf blades. The seedhead is made up of 3 to about 12 fingerlike spikes at the tip of the stem. So the description that notes seedheads with multiple fingerlike segments at the stem tip and hairless leaves best matches smooth crabgrass. The other statements don’t fit because a milky juice in a taproot isn’t a crabgrass trait, purple leaves aren’t characteristic, and hairs on the leaf surface point to the hairy variety rather than smooth.