Eragrostis elliottii Wats., Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  High risk, score: 12 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Poa nitida Elliott

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Elliott's lovegrass, field lovegrass

Habit:  grass

Description:  "Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40-80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 20-40 cm long; 2-4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.  Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole.  Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 20-40 cm long; 0.5-0.6 of culm length. Primary panicle branches ascending; subdividing 2-4 times. Panicle branches stiff.  Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 9-25 mm long.  Spikelets comprising 8-15 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5-12 mm long; 2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.  Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.  Florets: Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.  Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.  Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 0.7 mm long"  (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  (no habitat/ecology info known by PIER)

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  United States through Mexico to Guatemala, Honduras and Belize; also Bahamas and Jamaica (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Chiapas, Michoacan, Quintana Roo, Tamaulipas, Veracruz

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., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Eragrostis elliottii, please let us know.