Eragrostis spectabilis
Eragrostis spectabilis | |
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Plant at time of blooming | |
Plant in late fall | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Eragrostis |
Species: | E. spectabilis
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Binomial name | |
Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.
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Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Eragrostis spectabilis, known as purple lovegrass,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae, native from southern Canada to northeastern Mexico. It was first described by Frederick Traugott Pursh in 1813 as Poa spectabilis, and transferred to Eragrostis by Ernst von Steudel in 1840.[3]
It is readily eaten by browsing and grazing animals.[2]
Description
Eragrostis spectabilis is an upright, tufted grass that grows from 30 to 70 cm tall.[4] Its common name, purple love grass, comes from its inflorescence towards the top of the stem. They bloom in late summer to early fall, turn purple, and contain the seeds. As the plant continues to mature, the inflorescence will often break off, and its movement will disperse the seeds. These seeds are reddish-brown and tend to be 0.6-0.8 mm long.[4] During the fall after seed dispersal, the plant's stem and branches turn soft brown or tan in color.[5] The inflorescence of Eragrostis spectabilis exhibits a whorled branching structure, with three branches coming off the rachis at a time.[6]
Distribution
Eragrostis spectabilis is a native to eastern and central North America from Maine to as far west as South Dakota, and south to Florida and Arizona and even down into Mexico.[7] In addition to its native distribution in North America, purple love grass is widely grown in China as an ornamental plant non-natively.[8]
Ecology
Eragrostis spectabilis is a
Uses
Eragrostis spectabilis is often used in attempts to reintroduce native species in disturbed areas, particularly in plains and hot, sandy areas,
Eragrostis spectabilis also attracts several species of birds and butterflies, as well as other pollinators.[10] The seeds are used as a food source for small mammals, such as mice and songbirds, and tend to be high in nutrients.[8] It is also used as a grazing plant both for livestock and wild animals such as deer, and deer also will dig up the basal part of the stem to use as a food source during winter.[8] The plant itself is also often used as both nesting material and cover for smaller animals.[9]
References
- ^ "Eragrostis spectabilis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ a b "USDA Plants Database".
- ^ "Eragrostis spectabilis", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2018-01-20
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8203-2748-8.
- ^ a b c d e f "Eragrostis spectabilis (Purple Lovegrass, Purple Love Grass, Tumble Grass) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b "Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis)". www.illinoiswildflowers.info. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b "Eragrostis spectabilis - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Purple lovegrass" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Add Color with Purple Love Grass | Hoffman Nursery". hoffmannursery.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Eragrostis spectabilis". Jersey-Friendly Yards. Retrieved 2021-12-07.