17.   Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees
Tufted Lovegrass, Éragrostide Pectinée

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations, without glandular pits. Culms 10-80 cm, erect to geniculate or decumbent below, glabrous. Sheaths hirsute at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.2-0.5 mm; blades 2-20 cm long, 1-4.5 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous and smooth, adaxial surfaces scabridulous. Panicles 5-25 cm long, 3-12(15) cm wide, ovoid to pyramidal, usually open, sometimes contracted; primary branches 0.6-8.5 cm, appressed or diverging to 80° from the rachises, solitary or paired at the lowest 2 nodes; pulvini glabrous or sparsely hairy; pedicels 1-7 mm, flexible, appressed to widely divergent, sometimes capillary. Spikelets 3.5-11 mm long, 1.2-2.5 mm wide, linear-oblong to narrowly lanceolate, plumbeous, yellowish-brown, or dark reddish-purple, with 6-22 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes subulate to ovate-lanceolate, hyaline; lower glumes 0.5-1.5 mm, at least 1/2 as long as the adjacent lemmas; upper glumes 1-1.7 mm, usually broader than the lower glumes; lemmas 1-2.2 mm, ovate-lanceolate, hyaline to membranous, grayish-green proximally, reddish-purple distally, lateral veins moderately conspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1-2 mm, hyaline to membranous, keels scabridulous, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.2-0.7 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.5-1.1 mm, pyriform, slightly laterally compressed, smooth, faintly striate, brownish. 2n = 60.

Eragrostis pectinacea is native from southern Canada to Argentina. In the Flora region, it grows in disturbed sites such as roadsides, railroad embankments, gardens, and cultivated fields, at 0-1200 m.

Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima (E. Fourn.) Reeder

Pedicels widely divergent, usually spreading 20-60° from the branches. Anthers 0.2-0.4 mm.

Eragrostis pectinacea var. miserrima grows in the southern United States, from Texas to Florida, and south through the lowland tropics to Brazil. It usually flowers from July-November in the Flora region.

Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees var. pectinacea

Pedicels appressed or diverging to 20° from the branch axes. Anthers 0.2-0.4 mm.

Eragrostis pectinacea var. pectinacea grows throughout the range of the species, including most of the contiguous United States. Within the Flora region, it is most common in the eastern states and usually flowers from July-November.

Eragrostis pectinacea var. tracyi (Hitchc.) P.M. Peterson

Pedicels divergent, usually diverging 20-70° from the branches. Anthers 0.5-0.7 mm.

Eragrostis pectinacea var. tracyi is known from only Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, Florida. It flowers from March-May and August-December in the Flora region.

18.   Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vignolo ex Janch.
Stinkgrass, Éragrostide Fétide

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations. Culms 15-45(65) cm, erect or decumbent, sometimes with crateriform glands below the nodes. Sheaths glabrous, occasionally glandular, apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.4-0.8 mm, ciliate; blades (1)5-20 cm long, (1)3-5(10) mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, sometimes glandular, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, occasionally also hairy. Panicles (3)5-16(20) cm long, 2-8.5 cm wide, oblong to ovate, condensed to open; primary branches 0.4-5 cm, appressed or diverging 20-80° from the rachises; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 0.2-3 mm, stout, straight, stiff, usually divergent, occasionally appressed. Spikelets 6-20 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, plumbeous, greenish, with 10-40 florets; disarticulation below the florets, each floret falling as a unit, rachillas persistent. Glumes broadly ovate to lanceolate, membranous, usually glandular; lower glumes 1.2-2 mm, usually 1-veined; upper glumes 1.2-2.6 mm, often 3-veined; lemmas 2-2.8 mm, broadly ovate, membranous, keels with 1-3 crateriform glands, apices obtuse to acute; paleas 1.2-2.1 mm, hyaline, keels scabrous, sometimes also ciliate, cilia to 0.3 mm, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 3, 0.2-0.5 mm, yellow. Caryopses 0.5-0.7 mm, globose to broadly ellipsoid, smooth to faintly striate, not grooved, reddish-brown or translucent. 2n = 20.

Eragrostis cilianensis is an introduced European species that now grows in disturbed sites such as pastures and roadsides, at 0-2300 m, through most of the contiguous United States and southern Canada. The English name refers to the odor of fresh plants.

19.   Eragrostis barrelieri Daveau
Mediterranean Lovegrass

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations. Culms (5)10-60 cm, erect or decumbent, much-branched near the base, with a ring of glandular tissue below the nodes, rings often shiny or yellowish. Sheaths hairy at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.2-0.5 mm, ciliate; blades 1.5-10 cm long, 1-3(5) mm wide, flat, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces glabrous, sometimes scabridulous, occasionally with white hairs to 3 mm, margins without crateriform glands. Panicles 4-20 cm long, 2.2-8(10) cm wide, ovate, open to contracted, rachises with shiny or yellowish glandular spots or rings below the nodes; primary branches 0.5-6 cm, diverging 20-100° from the rachises; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 1-4 mm, stout, stiff, divergent, without glandular bands. Spikelets 4-7(11) mm long, 1.1-2.2 mm wide, narrowly ovate, reddish-purple to greenish, occasionally grayish, with 7-12(20) florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes broadly ovate, membranous, 1-veined; lower glumes 0.9-1.4 mm; upper glumes 1.2-1.6 mm; lemmas 1.4-1.8 mm, broadly ovate, membranous, apices acute to obtuse; paleas 1.3-1.7 mm, hyaline, keels scabrous, scabridities to 0.1 mm, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 3, 0.1-0.2 mm, reddish-brown. Caryopses 0.4-0.7 mm, ellipsoid, not grooved, smooth to faintly striate, light brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis barrelieri is a European species that is now naturalized in the Flora region, primarily in the southwestern United States. It grows on gravelly roadsides, in gardens, and other disturbed, sandy sites, especially near railroad yards, at 10-2000 m. The ring of glandular tissue is most conspicuous below the upper cauline nodes.

20.   Eragrostis minor Host
Little Lovegrass, Éragrostide Faux-Pâturin

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations. Culms 10-45 cm, erect to decumbent, sometimes with a ring of glandular tissue below the nodes. Sheaths sometimes glandular on the midveins, hairy at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.2-0.5 mm, ciliate; blades 1.5-10 cm long, 1-3(4) mm wide, flat, glabrous or sparsely white-hairy, margins sometimes with crateriform glands. Panicles 4-20 cm long, 2.2-8(10) cm wide, ovate, open to contracted, rachises sometimes with glandular spots or pits below the nodes, rarely with a glandular ring, glands usually dull, greenish-gray to stramineous; primary branches 0.5-6 cm, diverging 20-100° from the rachises; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 1-4 mm, stiff, straight, divergent, usually with a distal ring of crateriform glands. Spikelets 4-7(11) mm long, 1.1-2.2 mm wide, narrowly ovate, mostly reddish-purple to greenish, occasionally grayish, with 7-12(20) florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes broadly ovate, membranous; lower glumes 0.9-1.4 mm; upper glumes 1.2-1.6 mm; lemmas 1.4-1.8 mm, broadly ovate, membranous, keels occasionally with 1-2 crateriform glands, apices acute to obtuse; paleas 1.3-1.7 mm, hyaline, keels smooth or scabridulous, scabridities to 0.1 mm, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 2, 0.2-0.3 mm, reddish-brown. Caryopses 0.4-0.7 mm, ellipsoid, not grooved, striate, light brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis minor is a European species that now grows in gravelly roadsides and disturbed sites, especially near railroad yards, at 20-1600 m in southern Canada and the contiguous United States.

21.   Eragrostis unioloides (Retz.) Nees ex Steud.
Chinese Lovegrass

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations, without glands. Culms 10-50 cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Leaves mostly basal; sheaths mostly glabrous, apices pilose, hairs 0.4-3 mm; ligules 0.1-0.2 mm, ciliate; blades (1.8)5-12 cm long, 2-6 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous and glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs appressed. Panicles 6-15 cm long, 0.5-7 cm wide, ovate, open to contracted; primary branches 0.2-5 cm, appressed or diverging up to 70° from the rachises, glabrous; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 2-8 mm, glabrous. Spikelets 4-8(10) mm long, (1.6)2-4 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, loosely imbricate, straw-colored to purplish, with 12-42 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas not persistent, rachillas persistent. Glumes ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, hyaline to membranous; lower glumes 1-1.8 mm; upper glumes 1-2.2 mm; lemmas 1.5-1.9 mm, broadly ovate, membranous, lateral veins raised, apices obtuse to acute; paleas 1.4-1.9 mm, hyaline, keels scabridulous, apices acute to obtuse; anthers 2, 0.2-0.4 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.6-0.9 mm, ellipsoid, laterally compressed, not grooved, smooth, light brown. 2n = 20, ca. 30.

Eragrostis unioloides is an Asian species that is now established in the southeastern United States, growing along roadsides and in disturbed ground, at 20-150 m.

22.   Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter
Teff

Plants annual; loosely tufted, without innovations, without glands. Culms 25-60 cm, erect, glabrous and shiny. Sheaths mostly glabrous, apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm, ciliate; blades 10-30 cm long, 2-5.5 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous abaxially, scabridulous adaxially. Panicles 10-45 cm long, 2.5-22 cm wide, ovate, open to contracted; primary branches 4-17 cm, appressed or diverging up to 50° from the rachises, flexible, naked below; pulvini glabrous or hairy, hairs to 5 mm; pedicels 2.5-17 mm, appressed or divergent. Spikelets 4-11 mm long, 1.3-2.5 mm wide, linear-lanceolate to ovate, stramineous, grayish-green to purplish, with 4-16 florets; disarticulation tardy, acropetal, caryopses falling before the glumes and lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate, membranous to hyaline; lower glumes 1-2 mm; upper glumes 1.5-2.8 mm; lemmas 1.6-3 mm, lanceolate, membranous, apices acute; paleas 1.4-2.2 mm, hyaline, keels scabridulous, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.2-0.5 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.7-1.3 mm, obovoid, not grooved, smooth, light brown to whitish. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis tef is native to northern Africa. In Ethiopia, it is used both as a grain and as fodder for cattle. It is also grown, but not commonly, for these purposes in the Flora region and is occasionally found as an escape from cultivation.

23.   Eragrostis gangetica (Roxb.) Steud.
Slimflower Lovegrass

Plants annual; tufted, without innovations, without glands. Culms (12)25-75 cm, usually erect, sometimes geniculate and branched below, glabrous, reddish. Sheaths glabrous, apices usually with 0.3-2.2 mm hairs; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm, ciliate; blades (5)7-17 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, flat to folded basally, involute apically, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, sometimes with scattered hairs near the base. Panicles (6)11-21 cm long, 1-13 cm wide, ovate to somewhat contracted, open; primary branches 0.5-12 cm, (12)15-20 per culm, appressed or diverging up to 60° from the rachises, often capillary, naked near the base; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.3-5 mm, mostly appressed. Spikelets 2-4.6 mm long, 0.9-2 mm wide, narrowly ovate, greenish-yellow to plumbeous and with a reddish-purple tinge, with 5-15 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, membranous; lower glumes 0.4-0.9 mm; upper glumes 1-1.3 mm, occasionally 3-veined; lemmas 1-1.3 mm, broadly ovate, membranous, often reddish-purple, lateral veins conspicuous, often greenish, apices acute; paleas 0.9-1.1 mm, hyaline, keels scabridulous, apices obtuse; anthers 2, 0.1-0.2 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.3-0.5 mm, subglobose to obovoid, not grooved, translucent, faintly striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 80.

Eragrostis gangetica is an Asian species that now grows in the southeastern United States. It can be found in the sandy margins of ponds, roadsides, and ditches, at 0-100 m, usually in association with Pinus, Taxodium distichum, Rynchospora, and Steinchisma hians. Eragrostis gangetica is similar to E. bahiensis, but differs from that species in its annual habit and shorter spikelets, lemmas, anthers, and caryopses.

24.   Eragrostis superba Peyr.
Sawtooth Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without glands. Culms 45-95 cm, erect, glabrous. Sheaths hairy at the apices and on the margins, hairs to 6 mm; ligules 0.5-1.2 mm; blades 7-30 cm long, 2.5-7 mm wide, flat to loosely involute, glabrous abaxially, scabrous adaxially, margins sharply scabrous. Panicles 10-30 cm long, 1-6 cm wide, oblong, condensed, interrupted below; primary branches 1-11 cm, appressed or diverging to 40° from the rachises, naked basally; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.5-25 mm, with a narrow band or abscission line below the apices. Spikelets 5.5-16 mm long, 2.7-9 mm wide, ovate, flattened, greenish to stramineous, sometimes with a reddish-purple tinge, with 4-22 florets; disarticulation below the glumes, spikelets falling intact. Glumes equal, 3-4.5 mm, ovate, chartaceous; lemmas 3-5 mm, broadly lanceolate, chartaceous to leathery, lateral veins green, apices acute; paleas 3-5 mm, chartaceous to hyaline, keels broadly winged below, forming a wing or tooth on each side that often projects beyond the lemma bases, apices acuminate; anthers 3, 1.4-2.8 mm, golden-yellow. Caryopses 1-2 mm, ellipsoid, adaxial surfaces flattened, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis superba is native to Africa, where it is grown for hay, being fairly palatable and drought resistant. It is also used for erosion control and revegetation. In the Flora region, it grows on rocky slopes, in sandy flats, and along roadsides, at 480-1650 m, often with Acacia, Prosopsis, Fouquieria splendens, Juniperus, and Quercus. The English name is an appropriate description of the leaf blades.

25.   Eragrostis echinochloidea Stapf
Tickgrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations. Culms 30-100 cm, erect to geniculate, with narrow, sunken glandular bands. Sheaths sometimes glandular, apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.4-1 mm; blades 5-21 cm long, 2-6(7) mm wide, flat to involute, with small crateriform glands on the keels and veins, sparsely pilose adaxially. Panicles 4-19 cm long, 0.8-7 cm wide, oblong to ovate, glomerate, spikelets clustered in 1-sided groups; primary branches 0.5-7.5 cm, diverging 10-90° from the rachises, angled, sinuous, glandular; pulvini hairy, hairs to 2 mm; pedicels 0.2-2 mm, stout, erect, without a narrow band or abscission line near the apices. Spikelets 2-5 mm long, 2-3.5 mm wide, broadly ovate, greenish, stramineous to plumbeous, with 7-14 florets; disarticulation basipetal, glumes persistent. Glumes subequal, 1.7-2.2 mm, ovate, membranous, keels with small crateriform glands, apices acute to acuminate; lemmas 1.8-2.3 mm, broadly ovate to orbicular, chartaceous, keels with small crateriform glands, apices acute to obtuse; paleas 1.7-2.2 mm, chartaceous, each side with a broad wing at the base, wings often projecting beyond the lemma bases, apices acute; anthers 3, 0.5-0.9 mm, yellowish. Caryopses 0.8-1.1 mm, ellipsoid, reddish-brown. 2n = 30.

Eragrostis echinochloidea is native to southern Africa. It is now established in Arizona, growing in gravel soils, often along roadsides and in sidewalks, from 700-1000 m. It has also been found in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

26.   Eragrostis obtusiflora (E. Fourn.) Scribn.
Alkali Lovegrass

Plants perennial; rhizomatous, sometimes also stoloniferous, with many innovations and scaly, sharp-tipped rhizomes 4-8 mm thick. Culms 15-40(50) cm, erect, stiff, hard. Sheaths hairy at the apices, hairs to 2 mm; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm, membranous, ciliate; blades 2-15 cm long, (1)2-4 mm wide, involute, arcuate, glabrous abaxially, scabrous adaxially, apices sharply pointed. Panicles terminal, 6-20(24) cm long, 2-8(12) cm wide, ovate, open or contracted; primary branches 1-8(15) cm, appressed or diverging up to 50° from the rachises; pulvini glabrous or not; pedicels 0-8 mm, appressed, lower pedicels on each branch shorter than 1 mm. Spikelets 8-14 mm long, 1.4-3 mm wide, ovate to lanceolate, stramineous with a reddish-purple tinge, with 5-10 florets; disarticulation basipetal, glumes persistent. Glumes unequal, chartaceous; lower glumes 2.4-3.6 mm; upper glumes 3-4.5 mm, sometimes 3-veined; lemmas 3.8-4.5 mm, ovate, leathery, 3(4, 5)-veined, lateral veins evident, greenish, upper margins hyaline, apices acute to obtuse, usually erose; paleas 3.8-4.5 mm, membranous, keels scabridulous, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 2-2.4 mm, purplish to yellowish. Caryopses 1.6-2 mm, ellipsoid, dorsally flattened, with a shallow adaxial groove, striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis obtusiflora is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It grows in dry or wet alkali flats, often in association with Distichlis and Sarcobatus, at 900-1400 m.

27.   Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.
Purple Lovegrass, Éragrostide Brillante

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations and short, knotty rhizomes less than 4 mm thick. Culms 30-70(85) cm, erect, glabrous. Sheaths hairy on the margins and at the apices, hairs to 7 mm; ligules 0.1-0.2 mm; blades 10-32 cm long, 3-8 mm wide, flat to involute, both surfaces usually pilose, sometimes glabrous on both surfaces or glabrous abaxially and sparsely pilose adaxially, often with a line of hairs behind the ligules, hairs to 8 mm. Panicles (15)25-45(60) cm long, 15-35 cm wide, broadly ovate to oblong, open, basal portions sometimes included in the uppermost leaf sheaths; primary branches (6)12-20 cm long, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary, naked below; pulvini hairy, hairs to 6 mm; pedicels 1.5-17 mm, divergent or appressed. Spikelets 3-7.5 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, reddish-purple, sometimes olivaceous, with (4)6-12 florets; disarticulation basipetal, glumes persistent. Glumes subequal to equal, (1)1.3-2.3 mm, lanceolate, membranous to chartaceous; lemmas (1)1.3-2.5 mm, ovate to lanceolate, leathery, 3-veined, apices acute; paleas (1)1.2-2.4 mm, membranous, keels sometimes shortly ciliate, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm, ellipsoid, strongly flattened, adaxial surfaces with 2 prominent ridges separated by a groove, reddish-brown. 2n = 20, 40, 42.

Eragrostis spectabilis is native in the eastern portion of the Flora region, extending from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico, and Central America to Belize. It grows in fields and on the margins of woods, along roadsides, and in other disturbed sites, usually in sandy to clay loam soils, at 0-1830 m, and is associated with hardwood forests, Prosopsis-Acacia grasslands, and shortgrass prairies. A showy species, E. spectabilis is available commercially for planting as an ornamental.

28.   Eragrostis curtipedicellata Buckley
Gummy Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations and short, knotty rhizomes less than 4 mm thick. Culms 20-65 cm, erect, viscid. Sheaths usually viscid, hairy at the apices and on the collars and margins, hairs to 6 mm; ligules 0.1-0.3 mm; blades 5-18 cm long, 2-4(5) mm wide, flat to involute, sometimes viscid, densely hairy behind the ligules, hairs to 8 mm. Panicles 18-35 cm long, 10-30 cm wide, broadly ovate, open; primary branches 3-18 cm, diverging 10-90° from the rachises, stiff, viscid, naked basally; pulvini hairy, hairs to 6 mm; pedicels 0.2-1.2 mm, appressed. Spikelets 3.5-6(7.6) mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, stramineous to reddish-purple, with 4-10 florets; disarticulation basipetal, glumes persistent. Glumes lanceolate, membranous; lower glumes 0.9-1.8 mm; upper glumes 1.2-2 mm, 1-3-veined; lemmas 1.5-2.2 mm, ovate to lanceolate, membranous, 3-veined, lateral veins evident, apices acute; paleas 1.2-2 mm, hyaline, not wider than the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.2-0.4 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm, ellipsoid, terete in cross section, neither ridged nor grooved, faintly striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

The range of Eragrostis curtipedicellata extends from southern Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri to northeastern Mexico. It grows near fields, along roadsides, and in the margins of woods, at 10-1525 m.

29.   Eragrostis silveana Swallen
Silveus' Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations and short, knotty rhizomes less than 4 mm thick. Culms 45-60 cm, erect, often glandular below the nodes, sometimes viscid. Sheaths often viscid, sometimes sparsely pilose, hairy at the apices, hairs to 6 mm; ligules 0.2-0.3 mm; blades 8-25 cm long, 2-4 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous, sometimes viscid. Panicles 20-35(42) cm long, 10-22 cm wide, broadly ovate, open, bases included in the uppermost leaf sheaths; primary branches 5-14 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary, sometimes viscid, naked basally; pulvini hairy, hairs to 6 mm; pedicels (1)1.5-12 mm, diverging or appressed. Spikelets (2.5)3-4.8 mm long, 0.9-1.4 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, reddish-purple, with 4-9 florets; disarticulation basipetal, glumes persistent. Glumes lanceolate, membranous; lower glumes 0.9-1.2 mm; upper glumes 1-1.3 mm; lemmas 1.1-1.4 mm, ovate to lanceolate, membranous, 3-veined, apices acute; paleas 1-1.4 mm, hyaline, not wider than the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.2-0.3 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.5-0.6 mm, ellipsoid, terete in cross section, neither ridged nor grooved, faintly striate, reddish-brown. 2n = unknown.

Eragrostis silveana grows in various open habitats, from sandy prairies to clay loam flats, near roadsides, railroads, and fields at 0-100 m. Its range is limited to the coastal plain of Texas and northern Mexico. Morphologically, E. silveana is somewhat intermediate between E. spectabilis and E. curtipedicellata, and grows where the distribution of these two species overlaps.

30.   Eragrostis spicata Vasey
Spike Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes. Culms 75-100 cm, erect, glabrous. Sheaths hirtellous on the margins when immature, apices glabrous or hairy shorter than 0.5 mm; ligules 0.2-0.3 mm; blades 20-40 cm long, 2-5(6) mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous abaxially, scabrous adaxially. Panicles 22-40 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm wide, spikelike, dense; primary branches shorter than 1.2 cm, closely appressed, spikelet-bearing to the base; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.1-0.6 mm, mostly appressed, hirtellous. Spikelets 1.4-2.2 mm long, 0.9-1.2 mm wide, ovate, stramineous to light greenish, with 2-3 florets; disarticulation basipetal, in the rachilla below the individual florets or at the base of the florets, glumes persistent. Glumes elliptic to ovate, hyaline, keels ciliolate; lower glumes 0.7-1 mm; upper glumes 0.9-1.3 mm, apices obtuse; lemmas 1.5-2.1 mm, ovate, membranous to hyaline, apices acute to obtuse; paleas 1.1-1.6 mm, hyaline, not wider than the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 2, 0.3-0.4 mm, reddish-brown. Caryopses 0.7-1 mm, ellipsoid, somewhat ventrally flattened, smooth to faintly striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis spicata grows in moist areas in prairies, usually in deep, sandy, clay loam soils, at 0-70 m. It is native from southern Texas to Mexico and in Paraguay and Argentina. In North America, it grows with Andropogon, Quercus stellata, Prosopsis glandulosa, and Acacia.

31.   Eragrostis plana Nees

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes. Culms 65-100 cm, erect, glabrous. Sheaths flattened, smooth, shiny, glabrous or puberulent; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades 15-50(70) cm long, 2-4 mm wide, folded, margins involute or revolute, abaxial surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy, adaxial surfaces scabridulous. Panicles 13-28 cm long, 2-8 cm wide, narrowly oblong to narrowly lanceolate, contracted to open; primary branches 1-8 cm, appressed or diverging up to 30° from the rachises; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 1-7 mm, appressed, glabrous. Spikelets 6-14 mm long, 1.3-2.5 mm wide, linear-oblong, greenish to plumbeous, with 9-14 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes narrowly ovate to lanceolate, membranous to hyaline; lower glumes 0.4-1.2 mm, scalelike; upper glumes 1-1.5 mm; lemmas 1.8-3 mm, ovate, membranous, strongly keeled, keels with minute punctate glands, lateral veins conspicuous, apices acute to obtuse; paleas 1.8-3 mm, hyaline to membranous, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 1.2-1.8 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 1-1.6 mm, rectangular-prismatic to ovoid, laterally compressed, adaxial surfaces deeply grooved, smooth, opaque, reddish-brown. 2n = 20.

Eragrostis plana is native to southern Africa. It is known from two locations in the Flora region, both waste areas near sheep and cattle lots in Florence County, South Carolina.

32.   Eragrostis swallenii Hitchc.
Swallen's Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes. Culms 35-70 cm, erect, with glandular bands below the nodes. Sheaths hairy on the margins and at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.2-0.5 mm; blades (8)10-25(30) cm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, sometimes also sparsely hairy, hairs to 4 mm. Panicles 12-30 cm long, 5-16 cm wide, ovate, open, an oblique glandular ring present below the lowest rachis node; primary branches 2-10 cm, diverging 10-70° from the rachises, flexible; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 1.5-14 mm, divergent, with a glandular band. Spikelets 5-16 mm long, 1.2-2.3 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, plumbeous to dark reddish-purple, with 5-25 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes ovate, membranous to hyaline; lower glumes 1.1-1.5 mm; upper glumes 1.4-2 mm; lemmas 1.5-2.5 mm, ovate, membranous, strongly keeled, keels without glands, lateral veins conspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.2-2.1 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.8-1.1 mm, rectangular-prismatic to ellipsoid, somewhat laterally compressed, with a well-developed adaxial groove, smooth, faintly striate, mostly opaque, light reddish-brown. 2n = 84.

Eragrostis swallenii grows in sandy sites along coastal grasslands and roadsides, often with Andropogon and Spartina, at 30-150 m. Its range extends around the Gulf coast from Texas to Mexico.

33.   Eragrostis trichodes (Nutt.) Alph. Wood
Sand Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-120(160) cm, erect, glabrous and non-glandular below the nodes. Sheaths sometimes villous along the margins, apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.3-0.5 mm; blades 15-46(65) cm long, 1.5-8 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, sometimes also pilose on the basal 1/4, hairs to 4 mm. Panicles 30-80 cm long, 6-30 cm wide, oblong to ovoid, diffuse; primary branches 2-35 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, naked basally; pulvini hairy or glabrous; pedicels 2-22 cm, diverging, capillary. Spikelets 3-15 mm long, 1.5-3.6 mm wide, ovate to lanceolate, greenish-yellow with a reddish-purple tinge, with (2)4-18 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes subequal, 1.8-4 mm, narrowly ovate to linear-lanceolate, membranous, apices acuminate; upper glumes as long as or longer than the basal lemmas; lemmas 2.2-3.5 mm, broadly ovate to lanceolate, membranous, strongly keeled, keels not glandular, lateral veins conspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.8-2.8 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, keels ciliolate, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 1-1.6 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.8-1.3 mm, rectangular-prismatic, somewhat laterally compressed, with a wide, deep adaxial groove, faintly striate, opaque, dark reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis trichodes grows in sandy to gravelly prairies, open sandy woods, rocky slopes, and roadsides, at 100-2150 m, often in associations with Quercus marilandica, Q. stellata, Juniperus, and Redfieldia flexuosa. It is endemic to the contiguous United States, and is available commercially as an ornamental. Records from outside the primary range probably reflect introductions.

34.   Eragrostis palmeri S. Watson
Rio Grande Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations and knotty bases, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 50-90(120) cm, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths villous and the hairs not papillose-based, or mostly glabrous, apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm, not papillose-based; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades (14)20-35 cm long, 1-2.4 mm wide, involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, sometimes sparsely hairy. Panicles 12-40 cm long, 4-20 cm wide, oblong, open; primary branches 2-20 cm, diverging 20-70° from the rachises, capillary; pulvini glabrous or sparsely hairy; pedicels (0.4)1-4(14) mm, appressed or diverging, only the terminal pedicels on each branch longer than 4 mm. Spikelets 4-6(7.3) mm long, 1-2 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, plumbeous, with 5-12 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, hyaline; lower glumes 1.1-1.8 mm; upper glumes 1.2-2.2 mm, exceeded by the basal lemmas; lemmas 2-2.6 mm, ovate, membranous, hyaline towards the apices and margins, keels weak or strong, without glands, lateral veins from inconspicuous to conspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.7-2.4 mm, hyaline, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, apices truncate, often notched; anthers 3, 0.6-1.3 mm, yellowish to purplish. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm, rectangular-prismatic to subellipsoid, laterally compressed, with a well-developed adaxial groove, faintly striate, opaque, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis palmeri grows on rocky slopes and hills between 300-2150 m, generally in association with Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, Bouteloua gracilis, and Prosopis. Its range extends from the southwestern United States into Mexico. It resembles E. erosa, but differs in its shorterlemmas and caryopses.

35.   Eragrostis polytricha Nees
Hairysheath Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-62 cm, erect, glabrous and shiny below the nodes. Sheaths sometimes densely pilose dorsally and on the collars, margins and apices hairy, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades 5-20(33) cm long, 1-3.5 mm wide, involute to flat, both surfaces with scattered hairs, adaxial surfaces densely hairy behind the ligules, hairs to 7 mm. Panicles 15-25 cm long, 5-27 cm wide, ovate, open; primary branches 0.6-15 cm, diverging up to 90° from the rachises, capillary, naked basally; pulvini hairy, hairs to 8 mm; pedicels 1.4-10(16) mm, divergent. Spikelets (2.5)3-5 mm long, 1.1-1.6 mm wide, narrowly lanceolate to linear-oblong, plumbeous, with 4-9 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, hyaline to membranous; lower glumes 1.1-1.6 mm; upper glumes 1.2-1.8 mm; lemmas 1.2-1.8 mm, broadly ovate, membranous throughout, lateral veins inconspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.1-1.7 mm, membranous to hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.5-0.8 mm, obovoid to somewhat prism-shaped, laterally compressed, with a well-developed adaxial groove, finely striate, opaque to translucent, reddish-brown. 2n = 60, 80.

Eragrostis polytricha grows in sandy and rocky areas, at 0-30 m, usually in open pinelands. It is native to Florida but its primary range lies to the south of the Flora region, from southern Mexico through Central America to Venezuela, Chile, and Argentina.

36.   Eragrostis lugens Nees
Mourning Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-70 cm, erect, sometimes geniculate, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths usually mostly glabrous, summits hairy, hairs 2-5 mm, never papillose-based; ligules 0.2-0.3 mm; blades (4)8-22 cm long, 1-3.5 mm wide, involute to flat, both surfaces glabrous, margins sometimes with scattered hairs, hairs to 7 mm. Panicles 16-28 cm long, 10-21 cm wide, ovate, open; primary branches 0.6-15 cm, diverging up to 100° from the rachises, naked basally; pulvini hairy; pedicels 1.4-5(7) mm, diverging, wiry, present on all spikelets. Spikelets 2-4.5(5) mm long, 0.5-1(1.3) mm wide, narrowly lanceolate, plumbeous to reddish-purple, with 2-7 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes broadly ovate to narrowly lanceolate, hyaline, sometimes reddish-purple; lower glumes 0.6-1 mm; upper glumes 1.1-1.4 mm, usually broader than the lower glumes; lemmas 1.2-1.8 mm, broadly ovate, mostly membranous but the distal margins hyaline, lateral veins inconspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.1-1.7 mm, membranous to hyaline, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.2-0.7 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.5-0.6 mm, obovoid to somewhat prism-shaped, terete to somewhat laterally compressed, sometimes with a weak adaxial groove, finely striate, usually opaque, faintly reddish-brown to whitish. 2n = 40, 80, ca. 108.

Eragrostis lugens grows on sandy dunes and along river banks, at 1-300 m. Its range extends from the southern United States to Peru and Argentina.

37.   Eragrostis hirsuta (Michx.) Nees
Bigtop Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations and hardened bases, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms (30)45-100 cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths rarely glabrous, apices and distal margins usually hairy, sometimes also densely hairy basally, dorsally, and on the collars, hairs to 6 mm, papillose-based; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades 25-60 cm long, 3-8(11) mm wide, flat to loosely involute, usually glabrous, adaxial surfaces sometimes hairy basally. Panicles 25-85 cm long, 15-40 cm wide, broadly ovate, open; primary branches mostly 4-35(45) cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 2-28 mm, divergent. Spikelets 2-4(5) mm long, 1-1.7 mm wide, lanceolate, greenish with purplish tinges, with 2-6 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate, hyaline to membranous; lower glumes 1.1-2 mm; upper glumes 1.5-2.8 mm, apices acuminate to acute; lemmas 1.6-2.4 mm, ovate, membranous, hyaline near the margins, lateral veins inconspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.2-2.2 mm, hyaline, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, apices acute to obtuse; anthers 3, 0.3-0.8 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.8-1 mm, rectangular-prismatic, somewhat laterally compressed, with or without a well-developed adaxial groove, striate, opaque, reddish-brown. 2n = 100.

Eragrostis hirsuta grows in sandy clay loams on the coastal plain and along roadsides, at 0-150 m, usually in association with Pinus palustris and Quercus. Its range extends from the southeastern United States through eastern Mexico to Guatemala and Belize.

38.   Eragrostis intermedia Hitchc.
Plains Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms (30)40-90(110) cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths sparsely pilose on the margins, apices hairy, hairs to 8 mm, not papillose-based; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades (4)10-20(30) cm long, 1-3 mm wide, flat or involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces densely hairy behind the ligules, elsewhere usually glabrous, occasionally sparsely hairy. Panicles 15-40 cm long, (8.5)15-30 cm wide, ovate, open; primary branches 4-25 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary; pulvini hairy or glabrous; pedicels 2-14 mm, divergent. Spikelets 3-7 mm long, 1-1.8 mm wide, narrowly lanceolate, olivaceous to purplish, with (3)5-11 florets; disarticulation acropetal, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, hyaline to membranous; lower glumes 1.1-1.7 mm,narrower than the upper glumes; upper glumes 1.3-2 mm, apices acuminate to acute; lemmas 1.6-2.2 mm, ovate, membranous, hyaline near the margins, lateral veins inconspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.4-2.1 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 3, 0.5-0.8 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.5-0.9 mm, rectangular-prismatic, somewhat laterally compressed, with a well-developed adaxial groove, striate, opaque, reddish-brown. 2n = ca. 54, 60, 72, ca. 74, 80, 100, 120.

Eragrostis intermedia grows in clay, sandy, and rocky soils, often in disturbed sites, at 0-1850 m. Its range extends from the United States through Mexico and Central America to South America. Eragrostis intermedia is similar to the more widespread E. lugens, but differs from that species in having wider spikelets, longer lemmas, and caryopses with a prominent adaxial groove.

39.   Eragrostis erosa Scribn. ex Beal
Chihuahua Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 70-110 cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths hairy at the apices and sometimes on the upper margins, hairs to 4 mm, not papillose-based; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades (8)12-30 cm long, 1.5-3.8 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, glabrous or sparsely hairy, hairs to 4 mm. Panicles 25-45 cm long, (5)12-30 cm wide, broadly ovate, open; primary branches mostly 4-20 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary, sinuous; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 1-18 mm, appressed or divergent, proximal spikelets on each branch usually with pedicels shorter than 5 mm. Spikelets 5-9 mm long, 1-3 mm wide, lanceolate, plumbeous, with 5-12 florets; disarticulation acropetal, glumes first, then the lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, membranous; lower glumes 1.3-2.4 mm; upper glumes 1.6-2.6 mm; lemmas 2.4-3 mm, ovate, mostly membranous, hyaline near the margins and apices, lateral veins inconspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.5-3 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 3, 0.6-1.7 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.8-1.6 mm, subellipsoid, terete to somewhat laterally compressed, with a well-developed adaxial groove, faintly striate, opaque, reddish-brown. 2n = unknown.

Eragrostis erosa grows on rocky slopes and hills, at 1200-2300 m, often in association with Pinus edulis, Juniperus monosperma, and Bouteloua gracilis. Its range extends from New Mexico and western Texas to northern Mexico.

40.   Eragrostis refracta (Muhl.) Scribn.
Coastal Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-85(110) cm, glabrous and shiny below the nodes. Sheaths sparsely hairy at the apices, hairs to 6 mm; ligules 0.1-0.4 mm; blades 10-35 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous abaxially, scabridulous and sparsely pilose adaxially, hairs to 7 mm. Panicles (25)30-60 cm long, 25-40 cm wide, broadly ovate to obovate, open, diffuse; primary branches 5-25 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary; pulvini hairy or glabrous; pedicels 0.5-25 mm, appressed, only the terminal pedicels on each branch longer than the spikelets. Spikelets 4-18(23) mm long, 1.4-3.4 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, grayish-green or stramineous to purplish, with (4)9-30 florets; disarticulation tardy, basipetal, in the rachillas below the florets, glumes persistent. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, membranous; lower glumes 0.8-2.4 mm; upper glumes 1.5-2.6 mm; lemmas 1.4-2.8 mm, lanceolate, membranous, apices acute to acuminate; paleas 1-2.6 mm, hyaline to membranous, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 2, 0.3-0.5 mm, purplish or brownish. Caryopses 0.5-0.9 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, finely striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 28.

Eragrostis refracta grows in sandy pinelands, savannahs, marshes, and woodlands on the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, at 0-150 m. It is not known from Mexico.

41.   Eragrostis elliottii S. Watson
Elliott's Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 25-80 cm, erect, glabrous and shiny below the basal nodes. Sheaths sparsely hairy at the apices, hairs to 6 mm; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades 6-30(52) cm long, 2-4.5 mm wide, flat, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, sometimes with a few scattered hairs near the base. Panicles (25)30-60 cm long, 15-45 cm wide, broadly ovate to obovate, open, diffuse; primary branches mostly 5-25(32) cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, capillary; pulvini hairy; pedicels (4)10-35(50) mm, widely diverging, capillary, all the pedicels on each branch longer than the spikelets. Spikelets 4-18 mm long, 1.4-3 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, grayish-green or stramineous to purplish, with (6)9-30 florets; disarticulation acropetal, below the lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes narrowly lanceolate, membranous; lower glumes 1.1-3.4 mm; upper glumes 1.6-3.4 mm, apices acuminate; lemmas 1.8-4.4 mm, lanceolate, membranous, lateral veins evident to inconspicuous, sometimes greenish, apices acute to acuminate; paleas 1.1-3.5 mm, hyaline to membranous, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 2, 0.3-0.8 mm, purplish or brownish. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm, ovoid to ellipsoid, finely striate, reddish-brown. 2n = unknown.

Eragrostis elliottii grows in sandy pinelands and live-oak woodlands on the coastal plain, at 0-150 m. Its range extends from the southeastern United States through the West Indies and Gulf coast of Mexico to Central and South America.

42.   Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl
Red Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-75 cm, erect, glabrous below. Sheaths mostly glabrous, hairy at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.2-0.3 mm; blades 10-25(40) cm long, 1-5 mm wide, involute, glabrous abaxially, scabridulous adaxially, sometimes also sparsely pilose. Panicles (3)5-30 cm long, 1-15 cm wide, from narrowly oblong, glomerate, and interrupted below to ovate and open; primary branches 0.5-12(16) cm, appressed or diverging up to 40° from the rachises, stiff; pulvini glabrous or sparsely hairy; pedicels 0-1(3) mm, appressed, flattened. Spikelets 6-16(23) cm long, 2.4-5 mm wide, ovate to linear-elliptic, flattened, stramineous, with reddish-purple margins or completely reddish-purple, with 10-45 florets; disarticulation basipetal, florets falling intact and before the glumes. Glumes ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, membranous; lower glumes 1.7-3 mm; upper glumes 2.2-4 mm, apices acuminate; lemmas 2-6 mm, ovate, membranous to leathery, apices usually acuminate or attenuate, sometimes acute; paleas 1.5-3 mm, membranous to leathery, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse, sometimes bifid; anthers 2, 0.2-0.5 mm, brownish. Caryopses 0.8-1.3 mm, ellipsoid, somewhat laterally flattened, smooth, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

There are two subspecies of E. secundiflora; plants from the Flora region belong to E. secundiflora subsp. oxylepis (Torr.) S.D. Koch. They grow in sandy soils, dunes, grasslands, beaches, and roadsides of the southern United States and northern Mexico, at 0-1000 m. Eragrostis secundiflora J. Presl subsp. secundiflora grows in Mexico and Central and South America.

43.   Eragrostis prolifera (Sw.) Steud.
Dominican Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 85-130(150) cm, stiffly erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths glabrous or hairy at the apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.1-0.2 mm; blades 25-50 cm long, 1.5-6 mm wide, flat to involute, glabrous abaxially, scabridulous adaxially, sometimes also with a few scattered hairs near the base. Panicles (10)20-50(60) cm long, 2-8(10) cm wide, narrowly ovate, contracted to open; primary branches mostly 2-14 cm, appressed or diverging up to 50° (90° ) from the rachises, spikelets congested near the base of the branches; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.3-2.4 mm, appressed, always shorterthan the spikelets. Spikelets 3.2-10(12) mm long, 0.7-1.4 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, stramineous to plumbeous, sometimes with a reddish tinge, with (5)8-25 florets; disarticulation acropetal, glumes first, then the lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes subequal, ovate to lanceolate, hyaline; lower glumes 1-1.5 mm; upper glumes 1.1-1.6 mm; lemmas 1.1-1.8(2) mm, ovate, membranous, apices acute; paleas 0.8-1.7 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 2, 0.2-0.3 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.6-0.9 mm, ovoid, flattened ventrally, finely striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis prolifera grows on beaches, in brackish water, and along roadsides, at elevations below 5 m in Florida. Its range extends southward from Florida through Mexico and Central America to Colombia.

44.   Eragrostis elongata (Willd.) J. Jacq.
Long Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 28-60 cm, erect to decumbent, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths glabrous, apices sparsely hairy, hairs to 2 mm; ligules 0.3-0.4 mm; blades 5-20 cm long, 0.8-3 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous, occasionally hairy near the base. Panicles terminal, (5)8-20(22) cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, spicate to narrowly ovate, branches condensed into glomerate lobes; primary branches 0.8-3 cm, appressed or diverging up to 90° from the rachises, spikelet-bearing to the base; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.2-1.3 mm, flattened, mostly appressed, all shorter than the spikelets. Spikelets 3-7 mm long, 1.8-2.4 mm wide, linear-lanceolate, stramineous with a reddish-purple tinge, with 8-18 florets; disarticulation acropetal, glumes first, then the lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes subequal, 1.2-2 mm, narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, membranous; lemmas 1.5-2.2 mm, lanceolate to ovate, leathery, greenish, lateral veins conspicuous, apices acute; paleas 1.1-1.7 mm, hyaline, narrower than the lemmas, keels ciliate, cilia to 0.2 mm, apices obtuse to acute; anthers 2, 0.2-0.3 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.4-0.5 mm, ovoid, not grooved, smooth, light brown. 2n = unknown.

Eragrostis elongata is native to southeastern Asia and Australia, where it grows in disturbed, sandy soils at 0-50 m. It was collected once near Washington, D.C., probably as an escape from the U.S. Department of Agricultures experimental grass garden; it has not become established in the Flora region.

45.   Eragrostis bahiensis (Schrad.) Schult.
Bahia Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 25-95(110) cm, erect, glabrous. Sheaths glabrous, summits hairy, hairs 1-3 mm; ligules 0.2-0.4 mm; blades (8)12-40 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces scabridulous and glabrous or long ciliate basally. Panicles terminal, 15-30(45) cm long, (4)8-17 cm wide, narrowly ovate, open to contracted; primary branches 5-15 cm, diverging 20-90° from the rachises, often capillary, usually naked basally; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 0.3-6 mm, mostly appressed, scabridulous, always shorter than the spikelets. Spikelets 6-15(18) mm long, 1.3-2(2.2) mm wide, narrowly lanceolate, plumbeous, occasionally with a reddish-purple tinge, with 8-30(40) florets; disarticulation usually in the rachilla below the florets, occasionally the lemmas falling separately, leaving the paleas on the rachilla. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, membranous to subhyaline, keeled; lower glumes 1-1.4 mm; upper glumes 1.4-1.7 mm; lemmas 1.5-2.2 mm, broadly ovate, leathery, scabridulous, lateral veins evident, apices acute; paleas 1.4-2.1 mm, hyaline, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, keels scabridulous, apices acute to obtuse; anthers 2, 0.4-0.6 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.6-0.8 mm, obovoid to ellipsoid, terete, somewhat striate, reddish-brown. 2n = unknown.

Eragrostis bahiensis grows in sandy soils near river banks, lake shores, and roadsides, at 0-200 m. Its range extends south from the Gulf Coast of the United States through Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina.

46.   Eragrostis scaligera Salzm. ex Steud.

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 25-75 cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths glabrous or with hairy apices, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.1-0.3 mm, ciliate; blades 4-8(18) cm long, 1-2 mm wide, involute, frequently deciduous, adaxial surfaces mostly glabrous, sometimes pilose near the base. Panicles terminal and axillary; terminal panicles 5-15 cm long, (1)2-10(12) cm wide, narrowly ovate, open; axillary panicles 2-5 cm long, 0.3-0.6 cm wide, usually contracted and partially to completely enclosed by the subtending sheath; primary branches 1-10 cm, appressed or diverging up to 90° from the rachises, wiry; pulvini glabrous or hairy; pedicels 0.3-5 mm, appressed, flattened. Spikelets 6-15(27) mm long, 1.6-2.4 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, plumbeous to greenish, often with a reddish-purple tinge, with 10-35(45) florets; disarticulation acropetal, glumes first, then the lemmas, paleas persistent. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, membranous; lower glumes 1.4-2.1 mm; upper glumes 1.6-2.2 mm; lemmas (1.7)2-2.5 mm, broadly ovate, leathery, apices acute to acuminate; paleas 1.1-1.7 mm, hyaline, apices obtuse to truncate; anthers 2, 0.3-0.7 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.5-0.6mm, globose, not grooved, smooth, light reddish-brown. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis scaligera is known from Lee and Collier counties, Florida, where it grows in sandy areas in the coastal scrub zone and along adjacent roadsides, at 0-10 m. It is native to French Guiana and Brazil.

47.   Eragrostis sessilispica Buckley
Tumble Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-90 cm, erect or decumbent, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths hairy at the apices and on the collars, sometimes also on the distal portion of the margins, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.4-0.5 mm; blades 5-30 cm long, 1-3 mm wide, usually involute, sometimes flat, abaxial surfaces glabrous or sparsely pilose, hairs to 5 mm, adaxial surfaces scabridulous. Panicles 20-65 cm long, 10-35 cm wide, ovate, open; primary branches 2-20(24) cm, widely spaced, diverging 20-100° from the rachises, not rebranched, naked basally; pulvini hairy; pedicels 0-12 mm, appressed, proximal spikelets on each branch sessile or subsessile, the pedicels shorter than 0.4 mm. Spikelets 5-13 mm long, 1.4-3 mm wide, oblong to oblanceolate, stramineous to reddish-purple, with 3-12 florets; disarticulation tardy, basipetal, in the rachilla below the florets, glumes persistent. Glumes lanceolate, broad basally, indurate; lower glumes 2.5-6 mm; upper glumes 3-6 mm, apices acuminate; lemmas 3-5 mm, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, indurate, apices acuminate; paleas 2.4-4.6 mm, indurate, gibbous basally but the sides not projecting beyond the lemmas, keels ciliolate, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, reddish-brown. Caryopses 0.9-1.5 mm, ovoid to pyriform, laterally flattened, tapering distally, smooth to faintly striate, brownish. 2n = 40.

Eragrostis sessilispica grows in prairies, limestone mesas, partial forest openings, and grasslands, generally in sandy soils, at 0-1220 m, often in association with Prosopsis and Quercus. Its range extends into northern Mexico.

48.   Eragrostis airoides Nees

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms 30-110 cm, erect, glabrous below the nodes. Sheaths glabrous or pilose, hairs to 5 mm; ligules 0.1-0.2 mm; blades 8-22 mm long, (1)2-4(5) mm wide, flat to folded, glabrous abaxially, scabridulous adaxially. Panicles 18-70 cm long, 3-25 cm wide, diffuse, ovate; primary branches 4-20 cm, appressed or diverging 10-70° from the rachises, naked basally; pulvini glabrous; pedicels 2.4-11 mm, divergent. Spikelets 1.3-2 mm long, 0.8-1.8 mm wide, ovate to lanceolate, plumbeous, with 1-3 florets; disarticulation acropetal, in the rachilla below the florets, glumes deciduous; rachilla prolonged above the terminal floret. Glumes lanceolate to ovate, membranous; lower glumes 0.8-1 mm; upper glumes 1.1-1.4 mm; lemmas 0.8-1.2 mm, ovate, membranous, plumbeous, keels and lateral veins inconspicuous, apices obtuse; paleas 0.8-1.2 mm, membranous, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, apices obtuse; anthers 3, 0.3-0.5 mm, purplish. Caryopses 0.4-0.5 mm, ovoid, reticulate, reddish-brown. 2n = 36 (Davidse, pers. comm.).

Eragrostis airoides is a South American species that, in the Flora region, is known only from roadsides and disturbed sites in Brazos County, Texas. It is an enigmatic species, often treated as Sporobolus brasiliensis (Raddi) Hack., which it resembles in its chromosome base number of x = 9 and caryopsis morphology, but its frequent possession of spikelets with more than 1 floret and its mode of spikelet disarticulation argue for its retention in Eragrostis.

49.   Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.
Thalia Lovegrass

Plants perennial; cespitose, with innovations, without rhizomes, not glandular. Culms (60)75-130 cm, erect. Sheaths glabrous, apices hairy, hairs to 4 mm; ligules 0.1-0.3 mm; blades (5)8-20 cm long, (1)2-3(4) mm wide, flat to involute, abaxial surfaces glabrous, adaxial surfaces mostly scabridulous, long ciliate basally. Panicles (7)10-20(28) cm long, (2.5)4-15 cm wide, ovate, open; primary branches (3)5-10(13) cm, diverging 20-60° from the rachises, wiry, somewhat capillary, naked basally; pulvini glabrous or sparingly hairy, hairs shorter than 2 mm; pedicels 1-10 mm, appressed, scabridulous. Spikelets 5-10(19) mm long, 1.4-2.4 mm wide, ovate-lanceolate, plumbeous to purplish, with 10-22 florets; disarticulation acropetal, glumes first, then the florets. Glumes subequal, lanceolate to ovate, membranous; lower glumes 1.2-1.4 mm, narrower than the upper glumes; upper glumes 1.4-1.7 mm; lemmas (1.5)1.7-2 mm, broadly ovate, leathery, keels scabridulous, lateral veins evident, apices acute; paleas 1.4-1.9 mm, hyaline, bases not projecting beyond the lemmas, keels scabridulous, apices acute to obtuse; anthers 3, 0.7-0.9 mm, reddish-purple. Caryopses 0.6-0.9 mm, obovoid to ellipsoid, terete, opaque, somewhat striate, reddish-brown. 2n = 60.

Eragrostis atrovirens is native to northern Africa, but it is now established in southeastern United States, where it grows along railways and roads, on beaches and in ditches, often in wet sandy soils and in association with Pinus, Taxodium, and Sabal.

EXCLUDED SPECIES

The following species have been reported from the Flora region, but no specimens supporting their presence, other than in experimental plots, have been found: Eragrostis acutiflora (Kunth) Nees, Eragrostis leptostachya (R. Br.) Steud., and Eragrostis suaveolens Becker ex Claus.