Eragrostis
| Lovegrass | |
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| Eragrostis cilianensis Maui, Hawai'i | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| (unranked): | |
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| Genus: | Eragrostis |
| Type species | |
| Eragrostis eragrostis (syn of E. cilianensis) | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Eragrostis is 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 ερως (eros), meaning "love", and αγρωστις (agrostis), 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 (Poanes 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.
Taxonomy
Eragrostis is the type genus of the tribe Eragrostideae.[14][15]
- Formerly included[3]
Many species now considered better suited to other genera, including Cladoraphis Coelachyrum Desmazeria Diplachne Ectrosia Festuca Harpachne Poa etc.
References
- ^ "Genus: Eragrostis Wolf". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1999-03-09. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
- ^ The International Plant Names Index
- ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Wolf, Nathanael Matthaeus von 1776. Genera Plantarum Vocabulis Characteristicis Definita 23.
- ^ Atlas of Living Australia, Eragrostis Wolf Love Grasses
- ^ Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 471, 画眉草属 hua mei cao shu Eragrostis Wolf, Gen. Pl. 23. 1776.
- ^ Flora of Pakistan
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Eragrostis
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2013j county distribution maps
- ^ Sanbi Red List of South African Plants
- ^ a b "Eragrostis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2006). CRC World Dictionary of Grasses. Vol. II E-O. CRC Press. p. 805. ISBN 978-0-8493-1303-5.
- ^ Freedman, Robert (1998): Famine Foods - Poaceae or Graminae. Version of 6 March 1998. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- ^ Stapf, Otto. 1898. Flora Capensis 7: 316
- ^ Tropicos, Eragrostideae Stapf
- ^ "GRIN Species Records of Eragrostis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
External links
