keys to the vascular plants of east texas - Botanical Research ...

940 POACEAE/ERAGROSTIS
var. pectinacea, SPREADING LOVE GRASS. Widespread in TX; scattered in s Canada and throughout
the U.S. This is the more common of the 2 varieties in TX. [E. diffusa Buckley]
Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P. Beauv., (pilose, with long soft hairs), INDIA LOVE GRASS. Tufted annual 15–
55(–70) cm tall; inflorescences open, the main branches naked of spikelets at the base; pedicels
usually longer than the spikelets; spikelets 2–7 mm long, when closed (before lemmas spread
open) very narrow, 1 mm wide or less, when open to 1(–1.5) mm wide, usually with 4–11(–17) florets;
lemmas usually 1.2–1.6 mm long, grayish green with reddish or purplish tips. Sandy or sandy
clay roadsides, disturbed sites; Dallas, Fannin, Rains (BRIT), Grimes, Hopkins, McLennan, Robertson
(Turner et al. 2003) and Walker (E. Keith, pers. comm., BAYLU, SBSC) cos.; Post Oak Savannah
and Gulf Prairies and Marshes w to West Cross Timbers, also several localities in the Panhandle;
scattered in s Canada and nearly throughout the U.S. Jun–Aug. Native of Eurasia (Peterson 2003a).
[E. multicaulis Steud.] We are following a number of recent authorities (e.g., Hatch et al. 1990;
Allen 1992; Weakley 2000; Hatch 2002; Peterson 2003a) in considering this species to be introduced;
others (e.g., Kartesz 1999) consider it native to the U.S. Some workers (e.g., Hatch 2002;
Peterson 2003a) recognize a variety, var. perplexa (L.H. Harv.) S.D. Koch, based on the presence of
glandular pits scattered over the whole plant and slightly longer lemmas. However, all East TX
material would appear to belong to the typical var. pilosa if varieties are recognized. I
Eragrostis polytricha Nees, (many-haired), HAIRY-SHEATH LOVE GRASS. Tufted perennial similar
to E. hirsuta and E. lugens; culms usually 60 cm or less tall; leaf blades densely papillose-pilose
at least 2/3 their length; inflorescences open, the main branches naked of spikelets at the base;
spikelets ca. 3–4 mm long, ca. 1.5 mm wide, with 3–5 florets; lemmas 1.8 mm or less long. Sandy
areas; Walker Co.—reported (as E. trichocolea var. floridana) “in sandy ground near Huntsville,
Texas” by Witherspoon (1977) (no specimen cited) and listed (as E. trichocolea var. floridana) by
Hatch et al. (1990) and Hatch (2002) for the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah; we have, however,
seen no East TX material and only tentatively consider this species a member of the flora;
no county distribution map is provided; FL and ?TX, but primarily Mexico to South America.
Hatch et al. (1990) also cited E. trichocolea var. trichocolea for the Post Oak Savannah; however,
according to Witherspoon (1977), var. trichocolea is found in South America (but not North
America). Likewise, Kartesz (1999) did not list var. trichocolea for North America. Davidse
(1994) and Peterson (2003a) synonymized E. trichocolea under E. polytricha Nees. Summer–fall.
[E. floridana Hitchc., E. trichocolea Hack. & Arechav. var. floridana (Hitchc.) Witherspoon, E.
trichocolea of authors, not (Nutt.) Wood] If this species is confirmed for TX, it should probably
be considered of conservation concern for the state.
Eragrostis refracta (Muhl.) Scribn., (bent sharply back from the base), COASTAL LOVE GRASS,
MEADOW LOVE GRASS. Tufted perennial; culms usually 80 cm or less tall; inflorescences very
open, the main branches naked of spikelets at the base; pedicel subtending terminal spikelet of
a branchlet (5–)10–25 mm long; lateral spikelets often sessile or subsessile, their pedicels frequently
2 mm long or less, often much less; spikelets 5–18 mm long, usually 1.4–2(–3) mm wide,
with 9–30 florets, greenish or with reddish or purplish tinge; lemmas usually 1.4–2.2 mm long.
Pine forests, sandy soils; widespread in Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah and Dallas Co.
(Turner et al. 2003) to the w; also n Gulf Prairies and Marshes; se U.S. from VA s to FL w to OK,
and TX. Aug–Oct. [E. campestris Trin., E. campestris var. refracta (Muhl. ex Elliott) Chapm.]
Eragrostis reptans (Michx.) Nees, (creeping), CREEPING LOVE GRASS. Dioecious annual; culms
creeping, rooting at nodes, mat-forming; flowering culms 5–10(–20) cm tall; inflorescences short
(3 cm or less long), the pistillate ones often � head-like, the staminate inflorescences somewhat
more open; spikelets sessile or very short-pedicelled, crowded, usually 6–20(–26) mm long, usually
2–4 mm wide, ovate to lanceolate or linear, sometimes curved, with 16–40(–60) florets; lemmas
(1.8–)2.1–4 mm long, usually with short hairs along the veins. Dry lake beds, stream bottoms,
wet weedy areas; widespread in e 1/2 of TX, scattered to the w; widespread in ec U.S. from WV s to