Eragrostis echinochloidea, (English: African lovegrass; Afrikaans: Krummelgras, "crumb grass") is a species of grass native to South Africa (Limpopo. North West, and Northern Cape provinces). Listed as "safe" (LC) on the SANBI Red List,[1] the plant can also be found in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia.
| African lovegrass | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
| Genus: | Eragrostis |
| Species: | E. echinochloidea
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| Binomial name | |
| Eragrostis echinochloidea | |
African lovegrass is a perennial tussock that grows straight and knee-high. The leaves have tapered, papery sheaths and seed clusters sunken under the edges. The flower is a scarcely branched plume with closely packed spines on single branches. The spines are edible by humans and baboons. The drought tolerant species grows on disturbed veld and stony hillsides.[2]
In Deception Valley, one of the three dry riverbeds of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, the species prospers along with Enneapogon desvauxii and Sporoborus iocladus in the rainy season (from November to April/May).[3]
Grazing
editAfrican lovegrass is mildly suited to grazing.
| Header text | EIW | SWIW | LnregWIW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grazing Response Index[4] | 4 | 4.5 | 2.2 |
References
edit- ^ "Red List entry". SANBI.
- ^ Quattrocchi, Umberto (2006). CRC World Dictionary of Grasses: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. CRC, Taylor & Francis. p. 822. ISBN 978-1-4200-0322-2.
- ^ Owens, Mark J.; Owens, Delia D. (1978). "Feeding ecology and its influence on social organization in Brown hyenas (Hyaena brrcnnea, Thunberg) of the Central Kalahari Desert" (PDF). East African Wildlife Journal. 16: 113–135.
- ^ Du Toit, P.C.V. "Objektiewe weidingsindekswaardes van Nama-Karoo plantegroei: grasse en bossies van die Karoo". Grootfontein Agricultural Development Institute.