Eragrostis refracta

Eragrostis refracta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
Order:	Cyperales
Family:	Poaceae ⁄ Gramineae
Genus:	Eragrostis
Species:	E. refracta
Binomial name
Eragrostis refracta (Muhl.) Scribn.
Natural range of Eragrostis refracta from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: Coastal lovegrass

Description

Weakley states that some authors have taken up the older name E. virginica, as a synonym for E. refracta, but the application of synonymy is uncertain (Weakley 2015).

Generally, for the Eragrostis genus, they are "annuals or perennials from short rhizomes or hardened bases. Glumes similar, shorter than lowest lemma. Florets more than 2. Lemmas 3-nerved, paleas persistent, ciliate" - Radford et al 1964.

Specifically, for Eragrostis refracta species, they are "cespitose perennial from hardened base; culms 3-10 dm tall, nodes and internodes glabrous. Leaves primarily low cauline; blades elongate, to 2.5 dm long, 1.5-4 mm wide, pilose above, glabrous beneath, margins scaberulous; sheaths glabrous; ligules membranous, 0.1-0.2 mm long, long trichomes in throat. Panicle loose, open ½-3/4 height of the plant, ½ to as broad as long; branches flexuous, scaberulous. Spikelets with dark margins and light centers, 4-22 flowered, lateral spikelets longer than pedicels, appressed, 8-13 mm long, 1.5-1.8 mm wide. Glumes 1-nerved, scabrous keeled, acuminate, 1st glume 0,8-1.3 mm long, 2nd glume 1.5-2 mm long; lemmas scabrous keeled, acuminate, 1.5-1.8 mm long; paleas 1-1.5 mm long. Grain reddish, oblong, 0.5-0.7 mm long." - Radford et al 1964.

Distribution

It is distributed from Deleware south to Florida, and west to Texas (Weakley 2015).

Ecology

Habitat

Is found in open Longleaf pine woods, open woodlands (FSU Herbarium) and in pineland, savannas, bogs and seeds, and marshes (Weakley 2015). Is also found along the roadside edges (FSU Herbarium). Requires high light levels (FSU Herbarium). Is associated with areas with dry sand or dry, loamy sand soil types (FSU Herbarium).

Associated species include Composites, legumes, and grasses. Also Eriocaulon lineare and Lachnocaulon minus (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

Has been observed flowering and fruiting from September to November (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, J. M. Kane, Cindi Stewart, - MacClendons, and Annie Schmidt. States and Counties: Florida: Gadsden, Jackson, Liberty, and Suwannee. Georgia: Thomas.

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 66-71. Print.

Weakley, Alan S. Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States: Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU). PDF. 406.