Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R.Br., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Threat only at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Poa ciliaris L.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: gophertail grass, gophertail lovegrass, lovegrass, woolly love grass

Marshallese: ujoij

Palauan: ouemoket

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Slender annual or short-lived perennial 30-43 cm high; culms terete or slightly compressed, simple, erect or slightly geniculate, glabrous, smooth, strongly striate, few-noded, nodes glabrous; blades up to 11 cm long and 4 mm wide (flattened), flat or loosely involute, long-acuminate and very finely pointed, strongly nerved, pilose on the upper surface or glabrous, scaberulous; ligule a ciliate membrane, c. 0.3 mm long; collar ciliate with the hairs of the auricles or glabrous; auricles bearded with hairs up to at least 4.5 mm long; leaf sheaths chartaceous with scarious margins, loose, shorter than the internodes, pilose to hirsute especially along the margins with simple or tubercle-based hairs or glabrous, smooth, strongly nerved, sometimes keeled.  Panicle 9-13 cm long and c. 1 cm wide, spiciform, shortly exserted above the uppermost leaves; peduncle terete, glabrous, smooth, strongly striate; axis, branches and pedicels angular, densely scabrous, glabrous; primary branches up to 3 cm long, divided; pedicels usually 0.2-1 mm long.  Spikelets usually 1.5-2 mm long and 1-1.5 mm wide, distinctly compressed laterally, with usually 5-9 loosely imbricate florests, maturing from above downwards, with deciduous glumes, lemmas and paleas and very fragile rhachilla; rhachilla glabrous, smooth, terete, weakly flexuose, the internodes c. 0.2 mm long and widened upwards.  Glumes subequal, scarious to hyaline, strongly 1-nerved, narrow-lanceolate, muticous, glabrous, scabrous on the keel, otherwise smooth; lower c. 1 mm long, shortly acuminate; upper slightly longer and narrower, acuminate.  Lemmas 1-1.25 mm long, scarious to hyaline, narrow-oblong, obtuse, mucronulate, strongly 3-nerved with the lateral nerves submarginal, scabrous-ciliate on the midnerve in the lower part (sometimes very sparsely so), scaberulous or smooth on the lateral nerves and surface, often purplish.  Palea as long as its lemma, narrow-oblong, subobtuse, hyaline, ciliate on the keels with stiff white capillary bulbous-based hairs 0.5-1 mm long.  Grain c. 0.5 mm long, narrow-ovate, subacute, turgid, pallid-brown, somewhat wrinkled on the surface; embryo about half as long, protruding downwards" (Dassanayake, 1994).

"Distinguished by its relatively small size (5-60 cm tall), contracted spike-like inflorescences, and small spikelets less than 2 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 1537, 1908).

"Much like [Eragrostis amabilis], a delicate annual up to 30 cm high, but with dense cylindrical panicles up to 10 cm long; palea with a fringe of stiff hairs along the edges.  The panicle may be purplish, and with interrupted groups of spikelets" (Stone, 1970; pp. 190-191).

Description from World Grass Species.

Habitat/ecology:  In Hawai‘i, "adventive in dry coastal areas" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1537).  In Guam, "found along rocky shores or sandy shores, and in open ground" (Stone, 1970; pp. 190-191). In New Caledonia, "peu commun en stations secondaires" (MacKee, 1994; p. 59).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Pantropical (Stone, 1970; pp. 190-191).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Pagan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. (1977) (p. 28) Voucher cited: Falanruw 3026 (US)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Rota Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Saipan Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (US) Northern Mariana Islands	Tinian Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Darwin Islands	Darwin Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Fernandina Group	Fernandina Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Genovesa Group	Genovesa Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Alcedo	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Darwin	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcan Sierra Negra	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Marchena Group	Marchena Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Pinta Group	Pinta Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Eden Islet	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Punta Bowditch Sur Islet	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Venecia Islet	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Albany Islet	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Bainbridge #1 Rock	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Bartolomé Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Rábida Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Sombrero Chino Islet	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Wolf Islands	Wolf Island	native	Charles Darwin Research Station (2005)
French Polynesia Clipperton Island	Clipperton (Arue, Avera) Island		Sachet, M.-H. (1962) (p. 92)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced invasive	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (pp. 190-191) Vouchers cited: Stone 4102 (GUAM), Stone 4227 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1537) Voucher cited: Herbst et al. 5872 (BISH) Adventive
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. (1999) (p. 26) Vouchers cited: Herbst 5872 (BISH), Herbst & Walker 6090 (BISH) Naturalized
Kiribati Line Islands	Kiritimati (Christmas) Atoll	introduced invasive	Wester, Lyndon (1985) (p. 16)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Jaluit (Jãlwõj) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll		Anderson, Donald (1951) (p. ii) Voucher cited: Anderson 3675
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Arno Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian (2007) (p. 3) "Uncommon; only small patches found in lawns and ruderal areas".
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Marshall Islands Ratak Chain	Majuro (Mãjro) Atoll	introduced invasive	Vander Velde, Nancy (2003) (p. 51)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 59) Voucher cited: MacKee 29967
Palau Palau (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1987) (p. 42)
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 144)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)
Nicaragua Nicaragua	Nicaragua (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 144)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2007)

Additional information:  Additional online information about Eragrostis ciliaris is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Taxonomic information about Eragrostis ciliaris may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Anderson, Donald. 1951. The plants of Arno Atoll, Marshall Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 7. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 4 pp. + 7 pp. appendix.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Dassanayake, M. D., gen. ed. 1994. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon. Vol VIII. Amerind Pub. Co., New Delhi. 458 pp.

Fosberg, F. R./Falanruw, M. V. C./Sachet, M.-H. 1977. Additional records of vascular plants from the northern Mariana Islands. Micronesica 13: 27-31.

Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce. 1987. A geographical checklist of the Micronesian monocotyledonae. Micronesica 20:1-126.

Herbst, Derral R./Wagner, Warren L. 1999. Contributions to the flora of Hawai‘i. VII. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 1998. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 58:12-36.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

MacKee, H. S. 1994. Catalogue des plantes introduites et cultivées en Nouvelle-Calédonie. Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 164 p.

Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. 1996. A botanical reconnaissance of the proposed Compact-impact road alignment on Babeldaob Island, Republic of Palau. U. of Guam Herbarium Cont. No. 32. 78 pp.

Sachet, M.-H. 1962. Geography and land ecology of Clipperton Island. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 86. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 115 pp.

Stone, Benjamin C. 1970. The flora of Guam. Micronesica 6:1-659.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2007. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Vander Velde, Nancy. 2003. The vascular plants of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Atoll Research Bulletin No. 503:1-141.

Vander Velde, Nancy/Vander Velde, Brian. 2007. Arno plants [preliminary working listing of plant species]. Unpublished checklist, 13 pp.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Wester, Lyndon. 1985. Checklist of the vascular plants of the northern Line Islands. Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Atoll Reseach Bulletin 287:1-38.