Eragrostis | |
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Eragrostis cilianensis Maui, Hawai'i | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
Tribe: | Eragrostideae |
Subtribe: | Eragrostidinae |
Genus: | Eragrostis Wolf [1] |
Type species | |
Eragrostis eragrostis (syn of E. cilianensis) | |
Synonyms [3] | |
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Eragrostis is a large and widespread genus of plants in the grass family, found in many countries on all inhabited continents and many islands. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]
Eragrostis is commonly known as lovegrass [11] or canegrass. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek words ἔρως (érōs), meaning "love", and ἄγρωστις (ágrōstis), meaning "grass". [12]
Lovegrass is commonly used as livestock fodder. The seeds appear to be of high nutritional value for some animals, but they are also very tiny and collecting them for human food is cumbersome and hence uncommon. A notable exception is teff ( E. tef ), which is used to make traditional breads on the Horn of Africa, such as Ethiopian injera and Somalian laxoox . It is a crop of commercial importance. E. clelandii and E. tremula are recorded as famine foods in Australia and Chad, respectively. [13]
Other species, such as E. amabilis , are used as ornamental plants. E. cynosuroides is used in the pūjā rites in the Hindu temple at Karighatta. Bahia lovegrass ( E. bahiensis ) is known as a hyperaccumulator of caesium-137 and can be grown to remove the highly toxic radioactive atoms from the environment. Weeping lovegrass ( E. curvula ) has been planted extensively to prevent soil erosion.
Seed dispersal is often done by passing animals; the grains' hooks latch on to fur or hair, or to clothes. Others are wind or gravity dispersed. Several herbivores feed on lovegrass, including invertebrates such as the caterpillars of the Zabulon skipper (Lon zabulon) and vertebrates. The extinct bluebuck (Hippotragus leucophaeus) was known to graze these grasses. The dense bunches also provide cover for small animals such as the rare Botteri's sparrow (Aimophila botterii). Lovegrasses may be important groundcover on oceanic islands like Laysan, where other plants are rare.
Eragrostis is the type genus of the tribe Eragrostideae. [14] [15]
Many species now considered better suited to other genera, including Cladoraphis Coelachyrum Desmazeria Diplachne Ectrosia Festuca Harpachne Poa etc.
Teff, also known as Eragrostis tef, Williams lovegrass, or annual bunch grass, is an annual grass, a species of lovegrass native to the Horn of Africa, notably to both Eritrea and Ethiopia. It is cultivated for its edible seeds, also known as teff. Teff was one of the earliest plants domesticated. It is one of the most important staple crops in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Narthecium is a Eurasian and North American genus of herbaceous flowering plants. This genus was traditionally treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae, but the APG II system of 2003 placed it in the family Nartheciaceae.
Phleum is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family. The genus is native to Europe, Asia and north Africa, with one species also in North and South America.
Sporobolus is a nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family. The name Sporobolus means "seed-thrower", and is derived from Ancient Greek word σπόρος (spóros), meaning "seed", and the root of βάλλειν (bállein) "to throw", referring to the dispersion of seeds. Members of the genus are usually called dropseeds or sacaton grasses. They are typical prairie and savanna plants, occurring in other types of open habitat in warmer climates. At least one species is threatened with extinction, and another is extinct.
Pogonarthria is a genus of African plants in the grass family.
Lophacme is a genus of African plants in the grass family.
Desmostachya is a genus of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to Africa and Asia.
Hygroryza (watergrass) is a monotyipic genus of Asian flowering plants in the grass family. The only known species is Hygroryza aristata, native to China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam.
Borrichia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is named for Danish physician Ole Borch (1628–1690). Members of the genus are commonly known as seaside tansies. They are native to North and South America.
Abronia macrocarpa is a rare species of flowering plant known by the common name largefruit sand verbena. It is endemic to eastern Texas, where its current range is limited to Freestone, Leon, and Robertson counties. It inhabits harsh, open sand dunes on savannas, growing in deep, poor soils. It was first collected in 1968 and described as a new species in 1972. It is a federally listed endangered species of the United States.
Eragrostis curvula is a species of grass known by the common name weeping lovegrass. Other common names include Boer lovegrass, curved lovegrass, Catalina lovegrass, and African lovegrass.
Eragrostis lehmanniana is a species of grass known by the common name Lehmann lovegrass. It is native to southern Africa. It is present elsewhere as an introduced species. It is well known as an invasive weed in some areas, such as Arizona in the United States.
Anton Heimerl was an Austrian botanist.
Eragrostis pilosa is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is native to Eurasia and Africa. It may or may not be native to North America. It is widely introduced, and it is a common weed in many areas.
Eragrostis leptostachya is a species of grass known as the paddock lovegrass. Found in eastern Australia, it may be seen growing in eucalyptus woodland or pasture. The grass may grow up to 1 m tall. As Poa leptostachya, it was one of the many plants first published by Robert Brown with the type known as "(J.) v.v." Appearing in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen in 1810.
Eragrostis brownii is a widespread species of grass known as Browns lovegrass. Found in Australia and New Zealand, it may be seen growing in woodland or pasture. The grass may grow up to .6 m tall. The specific epithet brownii is named in honour of the Scottish botanist Robert Brown.
Eragrostis parviflora is a widespread species of grass known as weeping lovegrass. Growing to 1.3 m metres tall, it may be found in many parts of Australia and New Caledonia. Leaves are strongly ribbed, hairless or with marginal hairs; the leaf blade may be flat or inrolled.
Eragrostis ciliaris, the gophertail lovegrass, is a species of grass. It is native to the Old World Tropics; nearly all of Africa, Madagascar, other Indian Ocean islands, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent, Myanmar, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines and a number of Pacific islands, and has been introduced to the New World Tropics and Subtropics, from the southern United States to Argentina, the Caribbean, and other Pacific islands. Its seeds are edible and nutritious, but quite small and difficult to harvest and handle, so it is usually regarded as a famine food.