| Eragrostis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 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 ofE. cilianensis) | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Eragrostis is a large and widespreadgenus of plants in thegrass family, found in many countries on all inhabited continents and many islands.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Eragrostis is commonly known aslovegrass[11] orcanegrass. The name of the genus is derived from theGreek words ἔρως (érōs), meaning "love", and ἄγρωστις (ágrōstis), meaning "grass".[12]
Lovegrass is commonly used aslivestockfodder. 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 isteff (E. tef), which is used to make traditionalbreads on theHorn of Africa, such asEthiopianinjera andSomalianlaxoox. It is a crop of commercial importance.E. clelandii andE. tremula are recorded asfamine foods inAustralia andChad, respectively.[13]
Other species, such asE. amabilis, are used asornamental plants.E. cynosuroides is used in thepūjā rites in theHindu temple at Karighatta. Bahia lovegrass (E. bahiensis) is known as ahyperaccumulator ofcaesium-137 and can be grown to remove the highlytoxicradioactive atoms from the environment.Weeping lovegrass (E. curvula) has been planted extensively to preventsoil 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. Severalherbivores feed on lovegrass, includinginvertebrates such as thecaterpillars of theZabulon skipper (Lon zabulon) andvertebrates. Theextinctbluebuck (Hippotragus leucophaeus) was known to graze these grasses. The dense bunches also provide cover for small animals such as the rareBotteri's sparrow (Aimophila botterii). Lovegrasses may be important groundcover on oceanic islands likeLaysan, where other plants are rare.
Eragrostis is the type genus of thetribeEragrostideae.[14][15]
Many species now considered better suited to other genera, includingCladoraphisCoelachyrumDesmazeriaDiplachneEctrosiaFestucaHarpachnePoa etc.
Media related toEragrostis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toEragrostis at Wikispecies