Eragrostis pilifera Scheele

Scientific Name: Eragrostis pilifera Scheele


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Eragrostis von Wolf/ Eragrostis pilifera Scheele

<i>Eragrostis pilifera</i> Scheele
General Information
Usda SymbolERPI
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsERPI

Plant Guide

Alternate Names

Sand love grass, tall love grass, sandhill lovegrass

Uses

Sand lovegrass is a native, warm-season, perennial bunch grass that is palatable and preferred by grazing livestock in the central and southern Great Plains. It begins growth as much as two weeks earlier than other warm-season grasses. Sand lovegrass remains green into the fall and retains fair forage value even after maturity (Stubbendieck et al. 1982). It is known to cure well on the stem and provide winter forage for livestock and wildlife. It is included in range reseeding mixtures to provide quick cover and early forage production (Leithead et al. 1971). It is occasionally cut for hay.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e,g, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Eragrostis pilifera Scheele., threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values),

Description

General: Grass family (Poaceae). Sand lovegrass is a native, warm-season, short-lived, perennial, bunch grass found on sandy soil sites in the central and southern plains states. The erect culms are 80 to 120 cm tall, solid or hollow below. The leaf blades are flat to involute or rolled in at the margins, with a prominent midrib. The leaf blade is 20 to 46 cm long and 1.5 to 6 mm wide and taper to a slender point. The narrow leaf blade will roll inward under dry conditions to conserve moisture; this gives the leaf blade a threadlike appearance. The panicle type inflorescence is open or diffuse, oblong and usually half as long as the entire culm (Pohl 1978). The panicle is branched 3 or 4 times and the branches are curved alternately in opposite directions. The spikelets are 3.8 to 10 mm long, 1.5 to 6 mm wide and contain from 4 to 6 flowers (Barkley et al. 1986). The individual florets are frequently purplish with yellow glumes (Pohl 1978). The caryopsis is dark brown, strongly grooved on the side opposite the embryo and .8 to 1.1 mm long. Chromosome number is 2n=40. Sand lovegrass possesses the C-4 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation (Waller and Lewis 1979). Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Natural distribution of sand lovegrass is from the sandhills in northwestern Nebraska, east to Illinois and then south to central Texas. Habitat: Grows principally on deep sands and sandy loam soils on sandy prairies and open sandy woods.

Adaptation

This tall, leafy grass has been reported to grow in ten central Great Plains states from Colorado to Illinois and south to Texas. It grows best on sandy soils in the 45 to 90 cm rainfall areas. It is sometimes found growing on heavier type soils. It is best adapted to growth on north and east facing slopes (Moser and Perry 1983). Sand lovegrass has a shallow, widely spreading root system (Weaver 1968). It will show decrease in stand numbers under intense grazing pressure. Sand lovegrass occurs in mixed native stands with hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), Scribners panicum (Dicanthelium oligosanthes), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) and needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata).

Establishment

Propagation of Eragrostis trichodes is accomplished by seed and by the previous year’s growth increasing in size by tillering and sometimes rooting at the nodes of basal stems (Adams 1956). Perez et al. (1998) conducted a seedbank study in the Nebraska sandhills to determine in part the diversity and size, seed dormancy and germination, and seedling emergence in this fragile ecosystem. Seed quantity was greater in the shallower seedbank (0 to 5 cm) than in the deeper seedbank (15 to 20 cm). Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) and sand lovegrass were the most common perennial grass species identified in both seedbank levels across years. However, the basal coverage for these species in the above ground vegetation was relatively low. With respect to total germination sand dropseed and sand lovegrass were the most prominent grass seedlings identified. Some atrazine tolerance is present in some warm-season grasses, but not in sand lovegrass (Martin et al. 1982). Seedbed preparation should provide a weed free, firm surface on which to plant. Since seed size is small the planting depth should be 2.5 to 5 mm to allow seedling emergence. Neoteric seed of E. trichodes often shows considerable dormancy. This quality may be considered desirable for range seedings since seedlings continue to emerge over a longer period of time (Ahring et al. 1963).

Management

Sand lovegrass provides highly palatable forage for livestock and is sometimes referred to as “ice cream grass” because of its palatability. Total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) accumulation or carbohydrate reserves of a plant have been shown to play an important role in grass management and survival. Carbohydrate reserves of perennial grasses are important for winter survival, spring regrowth, and regrowth after herbage removal by clipping or grazing. According to Perry and Moser (1974) sand lovegrass has its greatest percentage of carbohydrate reserves located in their stem bases. Thus, sand lovegrass should not be closely grazed at any time during the growing season (Moser and Perry 1983). They further stated that defoliation once early in the growing season (June) appeared to be less detrimental to plant survival than late summer defoliations. In rangelands where good stands exist, sand lovegrass would yield and persist best in a rotational grazing system where defoliation was limited to once a year and it should have some leaf tissue remaining at the end of the grazing period. Sand lovegrass is a short lived plant even with light defoliation. Seed production should be permitted to allow for the possibility of new seedling development.

Pests and Potential Problems

Grasshoppers, leafhoppers and other forage eating insects are very destructive to seedling stands. Rabbits and rodents are also damaging to seedlings. Vogel and Kindler (1980) observed subterranean root aphids (Geoica utricularia) at the Mead Field Laboratory when digging and moving sand lovegrass selections to a crossing block from a selection nursery. Subsequent investigations indicated that the white, pear shaped aphids were infesting the roots of all sand lovegrass plots. Later experiments using two insecticides and a control (non-treated plots) indicated that the aphids were significantly reducing forage yields in the untreated plots of sand lovegrass.

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Sand lovegrass does not pose any known negative concerns to the environment. Its ability to grow and survive on sandy sites provides increased ground cover which reduces both wind and water erosion on these sites.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Seed can be harvested with a standard combine and cleaned with a fanning mill. Seed of sand lovegrass is extremely small with 3,810,000 seeds per kg or 1.5 million seeds per pound. A five year average seed yield for ‘Bend’ sand lovegrass at the Manhattan Plant Materials Center (PMC) was 197 kg per ha. This average yield was reported with supplemental irrigation and additional fertility as a management option. Ahring et al. (1963) found that sand lovegrass seed germinated better under alternating temperature regimes and when moistened with a Ca(NO3)2 solution. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Contact your local Natural Resources

Conservation

Service office for more information. Look in the phone book under “United States Government”. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.” ‘Nebraska 27’ sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by the Nebraska Agriculture Experiment Station, USDA Agriculture Research Service, and USDA Soil Conservation Service (SCS) in 1949. The original collection was made in northern Holt County, Nebraska. Nebraska 27 is described as a winter hardy, relatively long-lived strain of sand lovegrass. Well adapted to a range of soil types and produces palatable and highly nutritious livestock forage. ‘Mason’ sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by USDA Soil Conservation Service and the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station in 1971. The original collection was made by SCS personnel from native stands near Mason, Texas. Mason is described as leafier, having better seed and forage production and begins growth earlier in the spring than common sand lovegrass lines. ‘Bend’ sand lovegrass was cooperatively released by the Kansas Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA’s Agriculture Research Service and Soil Conservation Service in 1971. The original collections were made from the Arkansas and Cimarron River basin in south central Kansas and adjacent areas in Oklahoma. Two cycles of selection for vigor and persistence were conducted on non-irrigated sandy soil. Bend is described as uniform in maturity, a good seed producer, good establishment characteristics and relatively disease free. Bend had acceptable dry matter yield and good vigor in comparative tests.

References

Adams, K.S. 1956. Native grasses: legumes and forbs: section 2 of a series. Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Ahring, R.M., N.L. Dunn, and J.R. Harlan. 1963. Effect of treatments in breaking dormancy in sand lovegrass, Eragrostis trichodes (Nutt.) Wood. Crop Science 3: 131-133. Barkley, T.M., R.L. McGregor, R.E. Brooks, and E.K. Schofield. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Perez, C.J., S.S. Waller, L.E. Moser, J.L. Stubbendieck, and A.A. Steuter. 1998. Seedbank characteristics of a Nebraska sandhills prairie. J. of Range Man. 51: 55-62. Leithead, H.L., L.L. Yarlett, and T.N. Shiflet. 1971. 100 native forage grasses in 11 southern states. USDA SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 389, Washington, DC. Martin, A.R., R.S. Moomaw, and K.P. Vogel. 1982. Warm-season grass establishment with atrazine. Agron. J. 74: 916-920. Moser, L.E. and L.J. Perry. 1983. Yield, vigor, and persistence of sand lovegrass [Eragrostis trichodes (Nutt.) Wood] following clipping treatments. J. of Range Man. 36:236-238. Perry, L.J. and L.E. Moser. 1974. Carbohydrate and organic nitrogen concentrations within range grass parts at maturity. J. of Range Man. 27: 276-278. Pohl, R.W. 1978. How to know the grasses. Dubuque (IA): William C. Brown Publishing Co. Stubbendieck, J., S.L. Hatch, K.J. Kjar. 1982. North American Range Plants. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska. Vogel, K.P. and S.D. Kindler. 1980. Effects of the subterranean aphid [Geoica utricularia (Passerini)] on forage yield and quality of sand lovegrass. J. of Range Man. 33:272-274. Waller, S.S. and J.K. Lewis. 1979. Occurrence of C3 and C4 photosynthetic pathways in North American grasses. J. of Range Man. 32: 12-28. Weaver, J.E. 1968. Prairie plants and their environment. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Fact Sheet

Alternate Name

sand love grass, tall love grass.

Uses

Sand lovegrass is grazed by livestock and is sometimes cut for hay.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

Description

Grass Family (Poaceae). Sand lovegrass is a warm-season, short-lived, perennial bunch grass. The height ranges from 2-1/2 to 5 feet. The leaf blade is flat. It is narrow and rolls inward under dry conditions, giving a threadlike appearance. The leaf sheath is rounded, nearly as long as the internodes, and hairy an inch or so below collar. The seedhead has a large open and purplish panicle and spikelets mostly 4 to 6 flowered. Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Management

Occasionally, it is included in range-seeding mixtures for quick cover and forage production, This grass is seldom a key management species, It cures well on the stem and provides good grazing in the fall and winter, if grazing is deferred during summer months, , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Eragrostis pilifera Scheele.

Establishment

This grass has a high stem to leaf ratio. After stems are grazed off, they often become stiff and harsh to touch. It can grow principally on deep sands and sandy loam soils. Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin) Please contact your local NRCS Field Office.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Fertility RequirementLow
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Drought ToleranceHigh
Drought ToleranceHigh
Drought ToleranceHigh
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fertility RequirementLow
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Frost Free Days, Minimum120
Frost Free Days, Minimum120
Frost Free Days, Minimum150
Frost Free Days, Minimum180
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsNo
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-33
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsNo
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
Salinity ToleranceLow
Precipitation, Minimum14
Precipitation, Minimum14
Precipitation, Minimum14
Precipitation, Minimum16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)16
Salinity ToleranceLow
Hedge ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceLow
Salinity ToleranceLow
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-13
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-23
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-28
Precipitation, Maximum35
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseMedium
Moisture UseMedium
Moisture UseMedium
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.8
pH, Maximum7.8
pH, Maximum8.5
pH, Minimum5.0
pH, Minimum5.0
pH, Minimum5.0
pH, Minimum6.0
Precipitation, Maximum35
Precipitation, Maximum35
Precipitation, Maximum35
pH, Maximum7.8


Morphology/Physiology

Resprout AbilityNo
Resprout AbilityNo
Resprout AbilityNo
Shape and OrientationErect
Shape and OrientationErect
Shape and OrientationErect
Shape and OrientationErect
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
Flower ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorPurple
Flower ColorPurple
Flower ColorPurple
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
BloatNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
Active Growth PeriodSummer and Fall
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
BloatNone
BloatNone
BloatNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
LifespanShort
Height, Mature (feet)3.5
Height, Mature (feet)3.5
Height, Mature (feet)3.5
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
LifespanShort
LifespanShort
LifespanShort
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Growth RateRapid
Height, Mature (feet)3.5
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth RateRapid
Growth RateRapid
Growth RateRapid
Growth FormBunch
Growth FormBunch
Growth FormBunch
Growth FormBunch
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo


Reproduction

Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed per Pound1625680
Seedling VigorHigh
Seedling VigorHigh
Seed Spread RateRapid
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seed Spread RateModerate
Seed per Pound1625680
Seed per Pound1625680
Seed per Pound1625680
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Propagated by CormNo
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodLate Summer
Bloom PeriodLate Summer
Bloom PeriodLate Summer
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by BulbNo


Suitability/Use

Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialMedium
Protein PotentialMedium
Protein PotentialMedium
Protein PotentialMedium
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh

<i>Eragrostis pilifera</i> Scheele

<i>Eragrostis pilifera</i> Scheele

<i>Eragrostis pilifera</i> Scheele

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