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.

This species is known from only eleven counties and reported from Marshall County. It is very local but common enough where found. My specimens are from very sandy soil in shallow depressions on low, sandy ridges in open woodland, in a moist prairie habitat, and in dry, sandy soil in pastures.