Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees var. pectinacea

synonyms: Eragrostis caroliniana, Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima [misapplied in Hawai'i]


Carolina lovegrass


Info

Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus etymology: Eragrostis = "love grass" [Greek] unclear origin, other etymologies such as "early grass" or "very grass" have also been speculated
Species etymology: pectinacea = "resembling a comb" [Latin] refering to the paleas retained after the lemmas fall resembling a comb
Photosynthetic type: C4 (warm season)
Nativity: naturalized - accidental
First recorded in Hawaiʻi: 1915

Map

 Distribution of Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea in Hawaiʻi.
 Distribution of Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea in Hawaiʻi.

Inflorescence

Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Inflorescence
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Inflorescence

Habit

Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Habit
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Habit
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Habit

Spikelets

Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets
Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea Spikelets

Description

Annuals; culms erect and decumbent at base, or prostrate, 1.5-4 dm tall, diffusely branched at base, glabrous. Sheaths often purple at base, 3-6 cm long, glabrous, collar with stiff hairs 2-2.5 mm long; ligule 0.5-1 mm long, ciliate; blades 5-18 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, upper surface scaberulous, lower surface glabrous. Inflorescences paniculate, diffuse, 7-20 cm long, the lower axils sparsely bearded; spikelets usually silvery, sometimes purple-tinged, 5-18-flowered, linear, 3-8 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, as long as or shorter than the pedicels, appressed along the main branches; glumes I-nerved, smooth except the keels, apex acute, first glume ca. 1 mm long, second glume ca. 1.5 mm long; lemmas somewhat -Imbricate, smooth, upper part of keel slightly scabrous, apex acute, first lemma 1.5-2 mm long, lateral nerves distinct but not prominent; palea ca. 1.5 mm long, keel scabrous. Caryopsis reddish brown, obovoid, slightly flattened ventrally, 0.8-1.2 mm long. [2n = 40, 60, 80.]
(Description source: O’Connor, P.J. 1990. Poaceae, pp. 1481–1604. In: Wagner W.L., Herbst D.R. & Sohmer S.H. (eds.)., Manual of the flowering plant of Hawaiʻi. Vol. 2. University of Hawaii Press & Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu )