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Eragrostis atropioides

Hillebr. (1888)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Genus: Eragrostis

eragrostis, lovegrass

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Perennials in loose tufts.

Stems: with hard, scaly rhizomes up to 7 cm long, culms erect, stiff, 10-15 dm tall, glabrous, slightly scabrous below panicles.

Roots: Roots fibrous.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades 30-40 cm long, 4-6 mm wide. Apex long-acuminate. Upper surfaces scabrous; lower surfaces glabrous. Veins parallel. Sheaths glabrous, pilose at throat and along the margins, especially in the sterile shoots; ligule a pilose ridge, the hairs ca. 5 mm long, also with silky hairs 4-6 mm long. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Inflorescences paniculate, erect, contracted but scarcely spike-like, 25-50 cm long, 24 cm wide, the branches several per node, 0-10 cm long, appressed, the nodes pilose; spikelets linear, many-flowered, up to 2.5 cm long, rachilla glabrous; glumes slightly unequal, narrowly ovate, 3-4 mm long, scabrous on keel, apex acuminate. Lemmas pale green or purplish green, closely imbricate, 2-3 mm long, glabrous except minutely scaberulous at apex, the apex obtuse to erose; palea persistent, 2-3 mm long, upper portion of keels ciliate, apex obtuse and usually erose.

Fruit: Caryopsis dark red; narrowly ovoid to fusiform; 0.7-1 mm long.

Ploidy:

Habitat: Locally common on dry; exposed sites.

Elevation Range: 120–1920 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Endemic

Island Status

O'ahu Endemic
Molokai Endemic
Lana'i Endemic
Kaho'olawe Not in flora
Maui Endemic
Hawai'i Endemic

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Hawaiian Isl.: 531 (1888)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1540 (O, Mo, L, M, H); Herbst & Clayton 1998:26/Faccenda 2022:67, 69 (KEY); Faccenda 2023c:119 (note on fire adaptability)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Eragrostis atropioides Waikaloa Village Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 357 Hawaii BISH 1990-06-21
2 Eragrostis atropioides Kapapala Ranch, slopes of Mauna Loa Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4111 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-01
3 Eragrostis atropioides Manele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 489 Lanai BISH 1916-03-03
4 Eragrostis atropioides Waimea, Kawaihae Rd corridor, Seg 2, Lower part Preserved_Specimen McEldowney, P.H. 8042 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-17
5 Eragrostis atropioides Mauna Kea, above Waikii Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8405 Hawaii BISH 1910-06-01
6 Eragrostis atropioides Waikii Preserved_Specimen Ripperton, J.C. Hawaii BISH 1931-02-20
7 Eragrostis atropioides Mauna Kea, above Waikii Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 8405 Hawaii BISH 1910-06-01
8 Eragrostis atropioides Ka Lae o Ka Laau Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 58 Molokai BISH 1912-07-01
9 Eragrostis atropioides Waikii Preserved_Specimen Ripperton, J.C. Hawaii BISH 1931-02-20
10 Eragrostis atropioides By rock crusher. Lower kula road. Preserved_Specimen (Not on sheet) Maui BISH 1937-04-08
11 Eragrostis atropioides unknown Preserved_Specimen Mann, H. BISH 1864-01-01
12 Eragrostis atropioides NONE Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4217 BISH 2022-05-23
13 Eragrostis atropioides Olowalu Valley On steep slope w/ Heteropogon & Sida. Preserved_Specimen Tufts. St.John, H. 24762 Maui BISH 1951-12-29
14 Eragrostis atropioides Power Line Jeep Rd W of Mauna Loa Strip Rd & mauka of Kipuka Ki Only in disturbed soil about electric pole. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 31753 Hawaii BISH 1968-01-06
15 Eragrostis atropioides South Kohala, Waikoloa Village Growing on old lava flow. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 4214 Hawaii BISH 2005-08-11
16 Eragrostis atropioides Kohala, five individuals have been identified scattered across the 25 acre property plants appear naturally occuring, away from roads and nestled in buffelgrass on sloping, rocky terrain and without irrigation. Largest individual standing at about 20 inches high and 30 inches wide. Aird, windy conditions +/- 10 inches of rainfall annual Preserved_Specimen clumping, bushy growth habit. Three individual having inflorescence present Sthreshley, M. 1 Hawaii BISH 2024-06-13
17 Eragrostis atropioides Parker Ranch, Puu Papapa Bank of gulch. Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 280 Hawaii BISH 1932-01-20
18 Eragrostis atropioides Parker Ranch, Waikii Dry pasture land. Preserved_Specimen Ewart III, G.R. 240 Hawaii BISH 1932-01-14
19 Eragrostis atropioides Hamakua District; Kaohe Game Management Area G; W slope of Mauna Kea Dry montane forst. Preserved_Specimen Perennial bunch grass to 1.5m. Annable, C.R. 3771 Hawaii BISH 1998-01-20
20 Eragrostis atropioides W Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau Lowland Dry Shrubland at 1600 ft in a dry shrub and grassland with Dodonaea, Gouania hillebrandii, Heteropogon, Sida, Lipochaeta spp., Bidens spp., Canthium, Alyxia, and alien grasses and herbs Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 1350 Maui BISH 1991-10-26
21 Eragrostis atropioides Waikii, Waikoloa, S Kohala Dry situation, common. Preserved_Specimen Forming tufts, 2-3 ft ht. Hosaka, E.Y. 2282 Hawaii BISH 1938-06-10
22 Eragrostis atropioides Hamakua District, Pohakuloa Training Area, along the Saddle Road. Collected between the 30 mile and 45 mile markers, within 60 ft of the road. Within 60 ft of road. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. 43 Hawaii BISH 1990-12-13
23 Eragrostis atropioides 1/2 mi NW of Pohakuloa State Park dry, exposed area along roadside. In dry Sophora-Myoporum assoc. Preserved_Specimen Endemic perennial grass. Herbst, D.R. 397 Hawaii BISH 1967-03-29
24 Eragrostis atropioides Nohonaohae quad. Puu Papapa Ash substrate. West side of pu'u near crater. Growing in disturbed native scrub- Dodonaea, Styphelia, Pennisetum setaceum Preserved_Specimen Ht. 5-6 ft. spread 4 x 4 ft. Excellent vigor Clarke, G. 80419 Hawaii BISH 1980-03-20
25 Eragrostis atropioides Pohakuloa Dry Myoporum-Sophora-Chenopodium-tufted grass assoc. In bare exposed areas. Preserved_Specimen Perennial grass to ca 4 ft ht, with short, creeping rhizomes forming loose tufts. Herbst, D.R. 930 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-18
26 Eragrostis atropioides Puuwaawaa Dry woods near top of hill. Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 14493 Hawaii BISH 1916-08-31
27 Eragrostis atropioides East Maui, S coast of E Maui, Kanaio beach From sea on lava plain. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 1274 Maui BISH 1982-02-28
28 Eragrostis atropioides Awehi, Mauna O Umi area. Collected along road above Mauna O Umi Dodonaea shrubland w/Heteropogon contortus, Lipochaeta lavarum, Panicum spp., Tetramolopium remyi, Wikstroemia, Sida fallax, Waltheria indica. Preserved_Specimen Wood, K.R. 6001 Lanai BISH 1997-02-13
29 Eragrostis atropioides Plain betw Mauna Kea & Mauna Loa, W of Humuula Sheep Station Sandy soil. Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 14459 Hawaii BISH 1916-08-29
30 Eragrostis atropioides Slope of Mauna Kea, west of Waimea Dry situation Preserved_Specimen Whitney, L.D. 4137 Hawaii BISH 1936-04-06
31 Eragrostis atropioides South Kohala District. Collected east of Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Mauna Lani Drive and Puako turn off Dry area with scant vegetation; open grassland with scattered Prosopis pallida. Preserved_Specimen Funk, E.J. Hawaii BISH 1991-02-04
32 Eragrostis atropioides Pohakuloa Dry Myoporum-Sophora-Chenopodium-tufted grass assoc. In bare exposed areas. Preserved_Specimen Perennial grass to ca 4 ft ht, with short, creeping rhizomes forming loose tufts. Herbst, D.R. 930 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-18
33 Eragrostis atropioides Olowalu Valley On steep slope w/ Heteropogon & Sida. Preserved_Specimen Tufts. St.John, H. 24762 Maui BISH 1951-12-29
34 Eragrostis atropioides West Maui, West Maui Natural Area Reserve, Lihau Section, one major ridge S of Liha, Aspect: W Dense mat on ridge crest. Dry a'a'lii shrubland: Dodonaea viscosa, Melinis repens, Leucaena, Waltheria indica, Sida filax, Myoporum sandwichensis, Heteropogon contortus, Chamecrista nicititans Preserved_Specimen Henderson,R. 85 Maui BISH 2025-02-13
35 Eragrostis atropioides W Maui, above McGregor Point Pastures, growing among rocks on a windy ridge. Preserved_Specimen Leaves divaricate, angle glabrous. Hobdy, R.W. 1261 Maui BISH 1982-02-19
36 Eragrostis atropioides Olowalu Valley On steep slope w/ Heteropogon & Sida. Preserved_Specimen Tufts. St.John, H. 24762 Maui BISH 1951-12-29
37 Eragrostis atropioides W Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau Lowland Dry Shrubland at 1600 ft in a dry shrub and grassland with Dodonaea, Gouania hillebrandii, Heteropogon, Sida, Lipochaeta spp., Bidens spp., Canthium, Alyxia, and alien grasses and herbs Preserved_Specimen Welton, P. 1349 Maui BISH 1991-10-26
38 Eragrostis atropioides West Maui, West Maui Natural Area Reserve, Lihau Section, one major ridge S of Liha, Aspect: W Plants growing in abundance on ridge, both NW and SW facing areas. Dry a'a'lii shrubland: Dodonaea viscosa, Melinis repens, Leucaena, Waltheria indica, Sida filax, Myoporum sandwichensis, Heteropogon contortus, Chamecrista nicititans Preserved_Specimen Henderson,R. 74 Maui BISH 2025-02-13
39 Eragrostis atropioides Mauna Kea, near Mauna Kea State Recreation Area Dry, subalpine scrub, weedy areas near Saddle Road Preserved_Specimen Large clump forming grass from short rhizomes, this clump was over 1.5 m in diameter. Uncommon, only a few clump seen Faccenda, K. 2297 Hawaii BISH 2022-03-04
40 Eragrostis atropioides 0.7 mi S of Old Kona Hwy. along Bobcat trail mesic open-canopy shrubland, NW facing slope on weathered pahoehoe with moderate soil layer; Sophora, Dodonaea, Eragrostis Preserved_Specimen grass Douglas, P. 3033 Hawaii BISH 1989-01-13
41 Eragrostis atropioides Pohakuloa In bare exposed areas. Dry, Myoporum, Sophora, Chenopodium, tufted grass assoc. Preserved_Specimen Perennial grass, to about 4 ft ht with short creeping rhizomes, forming loose tufts. Herbst, D.R. 930 Hawaii BISH 1968-02-18
42 Eragrostis atropioides W of Pohakuloa On dry plateau, locally common. Preserved_Specimen Tussock-forming. Degener, O. 21803 Hawaii BISH 1952-02-08
43 Eragrostis atropioides Next main drainage on Mauna Kea NW of Pohakuloa Gulch, Pohakuloa Military Camp Open Myoporum-Sophora woodland w/ numerous exotic grasses & herbs. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4671 Hawaii BISH 1982-11-17
44 Eragrostis atropioides East Maui, Makawao District, below Puu O Kali Lava flows. Preserved_Specimen Robust grass to 1.3 m tall w/ large open heads. Hobdy, R.W. 2046 Maui BISH 1984-03-24
45 Eragrostis atropioides Kamokou Preserve, gulch below Puu Kolekole, East Molokai. Gulch in montane Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Perennial lgrass with dry inflorescence Pratt, L.W. 1164 Molokai BISH 1982-05-24
46 Eragrostis atropioides South Kohala, Waikoloa Village Growing on old lava flow. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 4215 Hawaii BISH 2005-08-11
47 Eragrostis atropioides Hii Flats Common along unpaved road in wast area. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 50618 Lanai BISH 2006-05-11
48 Eragrostis atropioides Bird park, Hawaii National Park Open grassy slope Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 1433 Hawaii BISH 1936-07-06
49 Eragrostis atropioides Puu Kaala, Waianae Mts On ridge in woods. Preserved_Specimen Tufted plant 2-3 ft ht. Hosaka, E.Y. 1268 Oahu BISH 1934-10-04
50 Eragrostis atropioides West Maui, Lahaina District, Lihau NAR In dry shrubland. Vegetation: Dodonaea, Sida, Myoporum, Santalum, Waltheria, Melanthera, Doryopteris, Psydrax, Gouania, Senna, Heteropogon, Leucaena, Melinis, Cenchrus, Lantana. Preserved_Specimen Scattered clumps. Oppenheimer, H.L. 40721 Maui BISH 2007-04-12
51 Eragrostis atropioides Puu Manu, E Occasional in Dodonaea scrublands. Preserved_Specimen 1 m ht. Nagata, K.M. 3720 Lanai BISH 1987-11-08
52 Eragrostis atropioides 1/3 to 2/3 mi SSE of Waikoloa substation Vegetation dominated by naturalized grasses. Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4718 Hawaii BISH 1982-11-20
53 Eragrostis atropioides W Maui, Lahaina Pali Trail at Robber's Rock Associated vegetation: Heteropogon contortus, Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen Clumping grass; dark green foliage; hard stolons. Starr, F. 212091 Maui BISH 2002-12-09
54 Eragrostis atropioides 6800 ft between Puu Koohi and Waikahalulu Gulch Scattered in open areas in an open Sophora-Myoporum scrub. Preserved_Specimen Height 3 ft. and growing in full sun Clarke, G. 463 Hawaii BISH 1980-07-03
55 Eragrostis atropioides Saddle Road, near junction of old Saddle Road and the more recently constructed road Dry grassland near roadside Preserved_Specimen Abundant grass along road in areas which burned about 7 months ago (July 17 2021). The grass was flowering more prolifically on the burned side of the road than the unburned side and was forming a near monoculture on both sides. The grass forms large clum Faccenda, K. 2316 Hawaii BISH 2022-03-04
56 Eragrostis atropioides Ka Lae o Ka Laau Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 58 Molokai BISH 1912-07-01
57 Eragrostis atropioides Mt Kaala, Waianae District Metrosideros forest. Preserved_Specimen Grant, M.L. 7453 Oahu BISH 1934-10-04
58 Eragrostis atropioides Puu Waawa Dry woods near top of hill Preserved_Specimen Hitchcock, A.S. 14493 Hawaii BISH 1916-08-31
59 Eragrostis atropioides Lahaina Pali, above tunnel Scattered patches. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. Maui BISH 1979-03-15
60 Eragrostis atropioides Manele Preserved_Specimen Munro, G.C. 30112 Lanai BISH 1914-03-03
61 Eragrostis atropioides Kaumalapau Hwy, along Preserved_Specimen Dense patches, 3 ft ht. Hobdy, R.W. 1968 Lanai BISH 1984-02-18
62 Eragrostis atropioides East Maui, edge of Kalialinui Gulch below Pukalani Preserved_Specimen Forming dense patch 30 ft across. Plants ca 60 cm w/ inflor to a meter tall. Hobdy, R.W. 1922 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
63 Eragrostis atropioides East Maui, edge of Kalialinui Gulch below Pukalani Preserved_Specimen Forming dense patch 30 ft across. Plants ca 60 cm w/inflor to a meter tall. Hobdy, R.W. 1922 Maui BISH 1984-02-01
64 Eragrostis atropioides Waikii Edge of corn fields. Preserved_Specimen Judd Jr., A.F. Hawaii BISH 1928-07-21
65 Eragrostis atropioides Kaumalapau Hwy, along Preserved_Specimen Dense patches, 3 ft ht. Hobdy, R.W. 1968 Lanai BISH 1984-02-18
66 Eragrostis atropioides Makawao Preserved_Specimen Von Tempsky, L. 33 Maui BISH 1903-03-01
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