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Eragrostis trichodes

Eragrostis trichodes (Nutt.) Alph. Wood

Sand Lovegrass, Sand Love Grass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonym(s): Eragrostis pilifera, Eragrostis trichodes var. pilifera, Poa trichodes

USDA Symbol: ERTR3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A bunchgrass to 5 ft., valued for its fine-textured, purplish inflorescence and graceful, arching habit. The grass frequently flops over on its neighbors in late season, sometimes with pleasing results. Leaves turn rusty-tan when dormant.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 5 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , CO , IA , IL , IN , KS , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , NE , NM , NY , OH , OK , SD , TN , TX , VA , WI , WY
Native Distribution: IL to Goshen Co., WY, s. to TX
Native Habitat: Open, sandy woods; sand barrens

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Deep, sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Adapts to heavier soils. Useful for stabilizing sandy areas.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 26 - Minnesota Wildflowers: a field guide to the flora of Minnesota (2009)
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eragrostis trichodes in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eragrostis trichodes in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eragrostis trichodes

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-06-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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