Culms 10-80 cm. Basal leaf sheaths with papillose-based hairs; cauline leaf blades 1-6 mm wide, flat. Panicle branches 3-13 cm. Spikelets 1.3-1.9 mm; lower lemmas pubescent.
Digitaria filiformis var. filiformis is a weed of sandy fields and open, disturbed ground in the southeastern United States and Mexico.