| Eragrostis mexicana | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Eragrostis |
| Species: | E. mexicana |
| Binomial name | |
| Eragrostis mexicana | |
| Synonyms [1] [2] | |
Eragrostis mexicana, the Mexican lovegrass, is an annual grass found from North America down to Argentina. Its specific epithet "mexicana" means "from Mexico". Its diploid number is 60.
Eragrostis mexicana was formerly four distinct Eragrostis species: E. mexicana, E. neomexicana, E. orcuttiana, and E. virescens. They are now united into E. mexicana, with the first two species forming E. mexicana subsp. mexicana and the last two forming E. mexicana subsp. virescens. All four former species are related by their diploid number of 60, their flowers with three stamens, and dark brown, reticulate caryopses. The two subspecies differ in the occurrence of glandular depressions below culm nodes, spikelet color, and plant size. Subspecies mexicana consists of smaller (15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in) tall) grasses lacking glands with more purplish spikelets, while subspecies virescens consists of larger (75–120 cm (30–47 in) tall) grasses possessing glands with grey-green spikelets. The former grows in compact soil while the latter grows in cultivated areas. [2]
Eragrostis mexicana is a densely tufted annual growing 10–130 cm (3.9–51.2 in) tall, with slender culms that are either simple or loosely branching. The pale leaves are long-attenuate, growing 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) wide. The top of the leaf sheaths are bristly, with sheaths being about a half to two-thirds as long as the internodes. Its ligules are ciliate. The ellipsoid to ovoid panicle is very lax and open, growing 4–20 cm (1.6–7.9 in) long (usually less than half the height of the total plant), with the spreading and ascending floral branches bearing scattered spikelets. The ovate-lanceolate spikelets are borne on ascending, stiff pedicels up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long. The straw-colored or orangish spikelets are 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide, and can be tinged with purple. The acute glumes have scabrous keels, the first being about 1.5 mm long and the second 1.8–2 mm long. The grey-green lemmas are 1.8-2.5 mm long and also have scabrous keels. [3] Its hyaline paleas have scabrous keels as well, with obtuse to truncate apices. Its anthers tend to be purplish. Its caryopses have shallow to deep grooves. [4]
The grass flowers from August to October. [3]
Eragrostic mexicana can be found in disturbed areas such as waste places and road verges, or on dry hills and mountains. [5] It grows from Iowa and Delaware down to southwest American states and Mexico, advancing as far south as Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, sometimes in lomas regions. [1] [3]
Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae. They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The genus is closely related to ryegrass (Lolium), and recent evidence from phylogenetic studies using DNA sequencing of plant mitochondrial DNA shows that the genus lacks monophyly. As a result, plant taxonomists have moved several species, including the forage grasses tall fescue and meadow fescue, from the genus Festuca into the genus Lolium, or alternatively into the segregate genus Schedonorus.
Bromus arvensis, the field brome, is a brome grass native to Europe and Asia. The specific epithet arvensis is Latin, meaning "of cultivated land".
Bromus hordeaceus, the soft brome, is an annual or biennial species of grass in the grass family (Poaceae). It is also known in North America as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess.
Bromus secalinus is a species of bromegrass known as rye brome. The specific epithet secalinus is Latin, meaning "rye-like". The fruits are hard, rounded glumes that appear superficially similar to the rye grain, which gives the brome its common and scientific name. The grass has a diploid number of 28.
Bromus madritensis is a species of brome grass known by the common name compact brome. The specific epithet madritensis refers to Madrid, Spain. It has a diploid number of 28.
Bromus briziformis is a species of brome grass known by the common name rattlesnake brome. The specific epithet briziformis comes from the resemblance of the grass to grasses of the genus Briza, particularly Briza maxima. The common name is derived from the resemblance of the spikelets to the rattles of rattlesnakes. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus catharticus is a species of brome grass known by the common names rescuegrass, grazing brome, prairie grass, and Schrader's bromegrass. The specific epithet catharticus is Latin, meaning cathartic. The common name rescuegrass refers to the ability of the grass to provide forage after harsh droughts or severe winters. The grass has a diploid number of 42.
Bromus kalmii, the Arctic brome or prairie brome, is a species of brome grass. It is a native bunchgrass in the North-central and Northeastern United States, the Great Lakes region, and eastern Canada. The specific epithet kalmii refers to its discoverer Pehr Kalm.
Festuca vivipara, the viviparous sheep's-fescue, is a species of grass native to northern Europe, northern Asia, and subarctic North America. The specific epithet vivipara is Latin, referring to the florets' alteration to leafy tufts. The plant can have a diploid number of 28, 49, 56, or 63, though numbers of 21, 35, and 42 have also been reported.
Melica tibetica, is a grass species in the family Poaceae that is endemic to China and can be found in such provinces as Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Melica hyalina is a species of grass found in Brazil and southern South America.
Bromus nottowayanus, the Nottoway Valley brome or satin brome, is a brome grass native to North America. The specific epithet nottowayanus refers to the Nottoway Valley. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus japonicus, the Japanese brome, is an annual brome grass native to Eurasia. The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Bromus squarrosus, the rough brome, is a brome grass native to Russia and Europe. The specific epithet squarrosus is Latin, meaning "with spreading tips". The grass has a diploid number of 14.
Festuca brachyphylla, commonly known as alpine fescue or short-leaved fescue, is a grass native to Eurasia, North America, and the Arctic. The grass is used for erosion control and revegetation. The specific epithet brachyphylla means "short-leaved". The grass has a diploid number of 28, 42, or 44. This species was first described in 1827.
Festuca saximontana, the rocky mountain fescue or the mountain fescue, is a perennial grass native to North America. The specific epithet saximontana is Latin and means "of the Rocky Mountains". The grass has a diploid number of 42.
Glyceria acutiflora, the creeping mannagrass, is a perennial grass found in the north-eastern United States and in north-eastern Asia. Its specific epithet acutiflora means "acute-flowered". It has a diploid number of 40.
Glyceria melicaria, the melic mannagrass or northeastern mannagrass, is a perennial grass found in the eastern United States. Its specific epithet melicaria means "similar to Melica". Its diploid number is 40.
Sphenopholis intermedia, the slender wedgegrass or slender wedgescale, is an annual grass native to North America. The specific epithet "intermedia" means "intermediate". The diploid number is 14.
Brachyelytrum erectum, known as the southern shorthusk or the southern long-awned woodgrass, is a perennial grass native to North America. Its specific epithet "erectum" refers to the erect culms of the grass. Its diploid number is 22.