Eragrostis cilianensis

Gray lovegrass
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus: Eragrostis
Species:
E. cilianensis
Binomial name
Eragrostis cilianensis
Synonyms

Eragrostis major
Eragrostis megastachya
Poa cilianensis

Eragrostis cilianensis is a species of grass known by several common names, including stinkgrass, candy grass, and gray lovegrass.

Distribution

This plant is native to much of Eurasia and Africa but it is widely naturalized elsewhere, including nearly all of North America.

Description

This is an annual bunchgrass forming tufts up to about half a meter in height. The stems are generally erect but may droop or bend. The stems have glandular tissue near the nodes and the long leaves are often dotted with glands as well. The plants have a strong scent.

The branching inflorescences have one to several spikelets per branch. Each spikelet is greenish brown, sometimes very slightly purple-tinted, and one half to two centimeters long. It is somewhat flattened and lined with 10 to over 40 florets.

References