Eragrostis ciliaris (gophertail lovegrass)
Datasheet Types: Invasive species, Host plant, Pest
Abstract
This datasheet on Eragrostis ciliaris covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.
Identity
- Preferred Scientific Name
- Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R. Br.
- Preferred Common Name
- gophertail lovegrass
- Other Scientific Names
- Cynodon ciliaris (L.) Raspail
- Eragrostis arabica Jaub. & Spach
- Eragrostis boryana (Willd.) Steud
- Eragrostis compta Link
- Eragrostis lobata Trin.
- Eragrostis pulchella Parl.
- Erosion ciliare (L.) Lunell
- Macroblepharus contractus Phil.
- Megastachya boryana (Willd.) Roem. & Schult.
- Megastachya ciliaris (L.) P.Beauv.
- Poa boryana Willd.
- Poa ciliaris L.
- Poa compta (Link) Kunth
- Poa elegans Poir.
- Poa lobata (Trin.) Kunth
- International Common Names
- Englishgophertail grasslovegrasswoolly love grass
- Chinesemao hua mei cao
- Local Common Names
- Cubagramita
- Indiaunder puncho
- JapanAmerika kaze kusa
- Marshall Islandsujoij
- Palauouemoket
Pictures
Seedhead
Eragrostis ciliaris (gophertail lovegrass); Seedhead. Taitung, Taitung County, Taiwan. November 2018.
©Han-Ting Liu/via inaturalist - CC BY 4.0
Habit
Eragrostis ciliaris (gophertail lovegrass); Habit. Taitung, Taitung County, Taiwan. August 2019.
©Han-Ting Liu/via inaturalist - CC BY 4.0
Summary of Invasiveness
Eragrostis ciliaris is a loose-clump-forming, annual to short-lived perennial grass, native to the Paleotropics. It is naturalized in parts of tropical America and the Pacific Islands. It is a common weed on roadsides cultivated land and disturbed sites. E. ciliaris is included in the list of weeds affecting rice crops globally. It is cited as invasive in some Pacific islands (Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia), the Hawaiian Islands and in Cuba.
Taxonomic Tree
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Eragrostis Wolf is the largest genus in the subfamily Chloridoideae (Poaceae) with approximately 350 species (Clayton et al., 2018). Members of Eragrostis are generally characterized by paniculate inflorescences, multi-floreted spikelets, glabrous three-nerved lemmas and ciliate ligules. The genus is morphologically and anatomically diverse and exhibits a wide range of variation in many characteristics; however, it is considered a monophyletic genus (Ingram and Doyle, 2007). Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R.Br. is the accepted name (The Plant List, 2013).
Plant Type
Annual
Grass / sedge
Herbaceous
Perennial
Seed propagated
Description
The following description is adapted from Clayton et al. (2018)
Eragrostis ciliaris is an annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 5–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 2–12 cm long; 1–5 mm wide. Inflorescence a panicle. Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 1–20 cm long. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, laterally compressed, 2–4.5 mm long, breaking up at maturity, disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, acute, 0.7–1.2 mm long; equal in length. 1-keeled, 1-veined. Upper glume lanceolate, acute, 0.7–1.2 mm long, 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma, 1-keeled. Fertile lemma elliptic or oblong, obtuse, muticous or obscurely mucronate, 0.9–1.5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 3 -veined, midvein ciliolate (at least a few hairs on upper lemmas). Palea keels tuberculate, ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Anthers 2, 0.2 mm long. Caryopsis with adherent pericarp, ellipsoid, 0.3–0.5 mm long.
Distribution
Eragrostis ciliaris is distributed in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of both the Old and New World (Stone, 1970). In its native range it has a paleotropical distribution in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, through the Indian Ocean and Arabia to Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines (Clayton et al., 1974; Flora of Pakistan, 2018). It is introduced in some Pacific Islands, and in tropical and subtropical regions of America: the southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean (Giraldo Cañas et al., 2012; Clayton et al., 2018; PIER, 2018; USDA-NRCS, 2018).
Distribution Map
Distribution Table
History of Introduction and Spread
Eragrostis ciliaris has been introduced outside its native range in tropical, subtropical and temperate areas in America and Oceania, and is probably a recent introduction in Taiwan (Flora of Taiwan Editorial Committee, 2018).
Risk of Introduction
The risk of further introductions of Eragrostis ciliaris is moderate to high, given its likely unintentional introduction outside its natural range by seed contamination via traded grain commodities. In view of its current distribution, the introduction of the species in new countries in tropical regions is highly likely.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Natural Dispersal
Eragrostis ciliaris spreads by seeds (Burkill, 2000; PIER, 2018) which may be dispersed by wind, water and birds.
Accidental Introduction
Eragrostis ciliaris is included in the list of weeds affecting rice crops throughout the world (PlantNet, 2018). Therefore, it is likely to have been introduced unintentionally by seed contamination through traded grain crops.
Pathway Causes
| Pathway cause | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed trade (pathway cause) | Yes |
Pathway Vectors
| Pathway vector | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants or parts of plants (pathway vector) | Seeds contaminating traded grain crops | Yes | ||
| Water (pathway vector) | Seed | Yes | ||
| Wind (pathway vector) | Seed | Yes |
Hosts/Species Affected
E. ciliaris is included in the list of weeds affecting irrigated rice, rain-fed-lowland- and irrigated-lowland rice globally (PlantNet, 2018).
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
| Host | Family | Host status | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oryza sativa (rice) | Poaceae | Main |
Growth Stages
Vegetative growing stage
Similarities to Other Species/Conditions
Eragrostis ciliaris can be distinguished from other Eragrostis species by its palea hairs 0.6-0.7 mm, more than the width of the floret (Clayton et al., 2018), and the presence of a woolly spike-like panicle. E. ciliaris also differs in the possession of only two stamens (Flora of Pakistan, 2018).
Habitat
This species is common in grasslands, cultivated lands, savannah, open areas, semi-desert shrub land, disturbed ground, on coastal and lake-shore dunes, and sometimes city pavements ( Burkill, 2000; Quattrocchi, 2006; Giraldo Cañas et al., 2012; Flora Zambesiaca, 2018; PlantNet, 2018). In Hawai‘i, it is an adventive in dry coastal areas (Wagner et al., 1999) and in Guam it is found along rocky and sandy shores and on open ground (Stone, 1970). It is a common weed of disturbed ground, and roadsides . It usually occurs in non-wetland areas, but may occur in wetlands, wadi beds, river banks and swamp margins, (USDA-NRCS, 2018).
Habitat List
| Category | Sub category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Secondary/tolerated habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Disturbed areas | Secondary/tolerated habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Rail / roadsides | Secondary/tolerated habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Principal habitat | Natural |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Principal habitat | Natural |
| Littoral | Coastal areas | Principal habitat | Natural | |
| Littoral | Coastal dunes | Principal habitat | Natural | |
| Freshwater | Rivers / streams | Principal habitat | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Genetics
The chromosome number for Eragrostis ciliaris is not known, but for those species that have been the subject of cytological studies, Eragrostis shows a range of ploidy levels from 2n= 10 or 20 to 40 (Ingram and Doyle, 2007; Giraldo Cañas et al., 2012; Missouri Botanical Garden, 2018).
Reproductive Biology
Reproduction and propagation are mainly by seeds (PlantNet, 2018).
Physiology and Phenology
In Pakistan E. ciliaris is recorded flowering and fruiting throughout most of the year (Flora of Pakistan, 2018); in India, from August to December (India Biodiversity Portal, 2018); and in Peru, from October to July (Peterson and Vega, 2007).
Environmental Requirements
Eragrostis ciliaris develops mainly in light, sandy soils (Burkill, 2000; Flora Zambesiaca, 2018). It also grows on stony and dry ferralitic soils. It is rare in very clayey and humid soils such as vertisols or planosoles. (PlantNet, 2018). In Puerto Rico, it occurs between 500 and 1000 m elevation (Gann and Stocking, 2018), and in Africa, from sea level to 1400 m. (Clayton et al., 1974; Burkill, 2000; Flora Zambesiaca, 2018). It can tolerate long droughts (Quattrocchi, 2006).
Climate
| Climate type | Description | Preferred or tolerated | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Af - Tropical rainforest climate | > 60mm precipitation per month | Preferred | |
| Am - Tropical monsoon climate | Tropical monsoon climate ( < 60mm precipitation driest month but > (100 - [total annual precipitation(mm}/25])) | Preferred | |
| As - Tropical savanna climate with dry summer | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in summer) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | Preferred | |
| Aw - Tropical wet and dry savanna climate | < 60mm precipitation driest month (in winter) and < (100 - [total annual precipitation{mm}/25]) | Preferred | |
| BS - Steppe climate | > 430mm and < 860mm annual precipitation | Tolerated | |
| BW - Desert climate | < 430mm annual precipitation | Tolerated | |
| Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers | Tolerated | |
| Cf - Warm temperate climate, wet all year | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, wet all year | Tolerated |
Latitude/Altitude Ranges
| Latitude North (°N) | Latitude South (°S) | Altitude lower (m) | Altitude upper (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 35 |
Rainfall Regime
Winter
Bimodal
Soil Tolerances
Soil texture > light
Soil drainage > seasonally waterlogged
Special soil tolerances > saline
List of Pests
Notes on Natural Enemies
The nematode Meloidogyne incognita has been reported as a parasite of E. ciliaris (CABI, 2018).
Natural enemies
| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meloidogyne incognita (root-knot nematode) | Pathogen | Roots | not specific | N |
Impact Summary
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
Impact: Environmental
It is reported as present in Natural Areas in Puerto Rico, and it is cited as invasive in a number of Pacific Islands (PIER, 2018) and Cuba (Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012).but no further information is given about its impacts or invasiveness (Gann and Stocking, 2018),
Impact: Social
Eragrostis ciliaris is a common weed in rice crops (PlantNet, 2018), lawn grass (Giraldo Cañas et al., 2012) and on roadsides (Burkill, 2000).
Risk and Impact Factors
Invasiveness
Proved invasive outside its native range
Has a broad native range
Abundant in its native range
Highly adaptable to different environments
Is a habitat generalist
Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
Pioneering in disturbed areas
Tolerant of shade
Highly mobile locally
Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
Fast growing
Has high reproductive potential
Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year
Reproduces asexually
Impact outcomes
Negatively impacts agriculture
Likelihood of entry/control
Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
Difficult to identify/detect as a commodity contaminant
Uses
Economic Value
Eragrostis ciliaris is used as a forage grass and, in sufficient quantity, provides good grazing (Quattrocchi, 2006; Flora of Pakistan, 2018; CICY, 2018).
Social Benefit
Eragrostis ciliaris is used for stabilizing coastal sand dunes (Burkill, 2000). The longer culms may be bundled for sale as brooms or used as thatch (Quattrocchi, 2006).The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild and consumed as a cereal (Burkill, 2000). It is also used medicinally, to treat stomach pains (Burkill, 2000).
Uses List
Environmental > Erosion control or dune stabilization
Medicinal, pharmaceutical > Source of medicine/pharmaceutical
Human food and beverage > Cereal
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Fodder/animal feed
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Forage
Prevention and Control
Due to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Chemical Control
Post-emergence herbicides such as 2 4-D or the pre-emergence herbicides, butachlor, anilophos and pretilachlor, can control this species effectively. Alternatively, control of this species has been observed in cluster bean crops in arid regions, following use of a combination of irrigation with mustard oil-cake and mustard pod straw (Saxena and Lodha, 2003).
Links to Websites
| Name | URL | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
| Global register of Introduced and Invasive species (GRIIS) | http://griis.org/ | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
References
Allarangaye, M. D., Traoré, O., Traoré, E. V. S., Millogo, R. J., Konaté, G., 2006. Evidence of non-transmission of Rice yellow mottle virus through seeds of wild host species.Journal of Plant Pathology, 88(3) 309-315. http://www.agr.unipi.it/sipav/jpp/index.html
Anurag Saxena, Satish Lodha, 2003. Integration of Brassica amendments and summer irrigation for weed suppression in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) in hot arid regions.Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 73(3) 145-147.
Burkill, H. M., 2000. The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Kew, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens.
CABI, 2018. Meloidogyne incognita (root-knot nematode). Invasive Species Compendium. Wallingford, UK: CABI. https://www.cabi.org/isc/
CICY, 2018. Flora de la Península de Yucatán. Yucatán, Mexico: Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY). http://www.cicy.mx/sitios/flora%20digital/
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Published online: 1 August 2018
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