Eragrostis japonica (pond lovegrass)
Datasheet Types: Pest, Crop, Invasive species, Host plant
Abstract
This datasheet on Eragrostis japonica covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Biology & Ecology, Environmental Requirements, Impacts, Uses, Prevention/Control, Further Information.
Identity
- Preferred Scientific Name
- Eragrostis japonica (Thunb.) Trin.
- Preferred Common Name
- pond lovegrass
- Other Scientific Names
- Airopsis jubata Griseb.
- Diandrochloa diarrhena (Schult.) A.N.Henry
- Diandrochloa diplachnoides (Steud.) A.N.Henry
- Diandrochloa glomerata (Walter) Burkart
- Diandrochloa japonica (Thunb.) A.N.Henry
- Diandrochloa namaquensis (Nees) De Winter
- Eragrostis aturensis (Kunth) Trin. ex Steud.
- Eragrostis aurea Steud.
- Eragrostis conferta (Elliott) Trin.
- Eragrostis depauperata Andersson
- Eragrostis diarrhena (Schult. and Schult.f.) Steud.
- Eragrostis diplachnoides Steud.
- Eragrostis elegans Nees
- Eragrostis glomerata (Walter) Dewey ex Coult.
- Eragrostis hapalantha Trin.
- Eragrostis hochstetteri Steud.
- Eragrostis koenigii (Kunth) Link
- Eragrostis kossinskyi Roshev.
- Eragrostis leprieurii Steud.
- Eragrostis maritima A.Chev.
- Eragrostis milleflora Steud.
- Eragrostis mossulensis Steud.
- Eragrostis namaquensis Nees
- Eragrostis pallida Vasey
- Eragrostis stricta (Roem. and Schult.) Steud.
- Eragrostis volgensis Roshev.
- Glyceria pilosa Steud.
- Megastachya aturensis (Kunth) Roem. and Schult.
- Megastachya glomerata (Walter) Schult.
- Panicum leptanthum Steud.
- Poa aturensis Kunth
- Poa aurea (Steud.) Walp.
- Poa biflora Retz.
- Poa conferta Elliott
- Poa diarrhena Schult. and Schult.f.
- Poa glomerata Walter
- Poa interrupta Lam.
- Poa japonica Thunb.
- Poa koenigii Kunth
- Poa sporoboloides A.Rich.
- Poa stricta Roth
- Roshevitzia diarrhena (Schult. and Schult.f.) Tzvelev
- Roshevitzia diplachnoides (Steud.) Tzvelev
- Roshevitzia glomerata (Walter) Tzvelev
- Roshevitzia japonica (Thunb.) Tzvelev
- Sporobolus confertiflorus A.Rich.
- Sporobolus verticillatus Nees
- Vilfa confertiflora (A.Rich.) Steud.
- International Common Names
- EnglishJapanese lovegrassteel lovegrass
- Frenchpâturin de férat
- Chineseluan cao
- Local Common Names
- Brazilameixa-amarelaameixeiranêsperanespereira
- Japankogome-kaze-kusa
- Malaysiaokwatpapalaan
- Thailandlokhwotpee-pae
- Vietnamnhót tâyso'n trà nhatban'ti ba diêp
- EPPO code
- ERAJA (Eragrostis japonica)
Pictures

Panicle
Eragrostis japonica (pond lovegrass); panicle.
Public Domain - Released by Jose Hernandez, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Seeds
Eragrostis japonica (pond lovegrass); seeds.
Public Domain - Released by Jose Hernandez, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Plant parts
Eragrostis japonica (pond lovegrass); a, Ligule, ventral view; b, young spikelet; c, mature spikelet; d, old spikelet breaking up from above; e, lower glume (G1), dorsal view; f, upper glume (G2), dorsal view; g, lemma (L), dorsal view; h, floret; i-j, palea (P), two views; k, caryopsis, three views.
©SEAMEO-BIOTROP
Summary of Invasiveness
E. japonica is a good fodder grass cultivated for pasture in tropical and subtropical regions (Kumar, 2013; USDA-ARS, 2016). It has escaped from cultivation and naturalized principally in disturbed sites. This species behaves as a weed in abandoned pastures, cultivated land, disturbed sites, waste areas, and along roadsides and riparian areas (Barkworth et al., 2004; Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016; PIER, 2016; PROTA, 2016). Currently, it is listed as invasive in Argentina, Brazil, and Cuba (Zuloaga et al., 2008; Oviedo Prieto et al., 2012; I3N-Brasil, 2016). It is well adapted to grow in seasonally waterlogged conditions and can be found growing in floodplain grassland and swampy grassland (Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
Taxonomic Tree
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Eragrostis is the largest genus in the Chloridoideae, a well-supported monophyletic subfamily of the Poaceae. The subfamily Chloridoideae includes about 130 genera and 1721 grass species that tolerate drought and high saline conditions (Stevens, 2012). The large cosmopolitan genus Eragrostis is composed of approximately 350 species (Clayton et al., 2016). E. japonica belongs to a small group of closely allied species with membranous ligules which have been treated as a separate genus Diandrochloa. Judgement on this issue has been delayed until variation within the genus as a whole has been more closely studied (Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
Species within the genus Eragrostis are extremely polymorphic with three main sources of variation (Flora of Pakistan, 2016):
Species within the genus Eragrostis are extremely polymorphic with three main sources of variation (Flora of Pakistan, 2016):
1.
Palea-keels: smooth palea-keels are confined to South and tropical Africa, while scaberulous keels are found throughout tropical Africa and Asia.
2.
Spikelet size: plants with few-flowered spikelets and lemmas less than 1 mm are generally separated as E. japonica sensu stricto, although similar forms from Africa with smooth palea-keels are called Eragrostis namaquensis, and those with rough keels are called Eragrostis diplachnoides.
3.
Panicle-form: three main sorts can be recognized: (a) interrupted with branches in pseudo whorls, almost exclusively Asian; (b) partly whorled but more generally open, branches branched from the base; and (c) branches solitary, bare at the base, panicle open.
Plant Type
Annual
Grass / sedge
Seed propagated
Description
E. japonica is an annual or short-lived perennial grass. Culms erect, or geniculate at base, 30–100 cm tall, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter, 3–4-noded. Leaf sheaths usually loose, longer than internodes, glabrous; ligules scarious, approximately 0.5 mm, fimbriate at apex, pubescent on back; leaf blades flat, 3–25 × 0.3–0.5 cm, smooth and glabrous. Panicle elongated, 6–34 × 1.5–6 cm; branches slender, clustered or verticillate, glabrous in axils. Spikelets usually purplish at maturity, ovate, 1–2 mm, 4–8-flowered; rachilla distarticulating between florets from top downward at maturity. Glumes chartaceous, ovate-lanceolate, subequal, 0.6–0.8 mm, 1-veined, apex obtuse. Lemmas chartaceous, broadly elliptical, distinctly 3-veined, apex obtuse, lower lemma approximately 1 mm. Palea subequal to lemma, along 2 keels ciliolate. Stamens 2; anthers approximately 0.2 mm. Caryopsis red-brown, ovoid, 0.4–0.5 mm (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016; Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
Distribution
E. japonica is considered native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia, but the exact native range is still unclear (USDA-ARS, 2016). It has been widely introduced in tropical America and the West Indies (Zuloaga et al., 2008; Clayton et al., 2016).
Distribution Map
Distribution Table
History of Introduction and Spread
E. japonica has been introduced in tropical and subtropical areas to be used as a pasture grass, however the dates of introduction and precise introduced vs. native range are unclear.
Risk of Introduction
The risk of introduction of E.japonica is moderate to high. The success of this grass species can be attributed to its broad habitat adaptation which enables the species to grow as a weed and persist even under unfavourable conditions.
Means of Movement and Dispersal
E. japonica spreads by seeds, which can be dispersed by wind, water, as a contaminant and adhered to livestock and motor vehicles (Barkworth et al., 2004; Flora of Pakistan, 2016; PROTA, 2016).
Pathway Causes
Pathway cause | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Disturbance (pathway cause) | Grows along roadsides and disturbed sites | Yes | Yes | |
Forage (pathway cause) | Use for pasture, forage, fodder | Yes | Yes |
Pathway Vectors
Pathway vector | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Debris and waste associated with human activities (pathway vector) | Seeds spread readily into disturbed areas from cultivated areas | Yes | Yes | |
Wind (pathway vector) | Seeds dispersed by wind | Yes | Yes |
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
Host | Family | Host status | References |
---|---|---|---|
Glycine max (soyabean) | Fabaceae | Main |
Habitat
E. japonica grows in damp places and along riverbanks. It is a weed in cultivated land (Sreekumar and Nair, 1991; Kabeer and Nair, 2009). In the United States and South America, it grows on sandy soils at elevations from sea level to 200 m (Lægaard and Peterson, 2001; Barkworth et al., 2004).
Habitat List
Category | Sub category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Terrestrial | ||||
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Cultivated / agricultural land | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Managed grasslands (grazing systems) | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Managed grasslands (grazing systems) | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Managed grasslands (grazing systems) | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Disturbed areas | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Harmful (pest or invasive) |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Natural |
Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Present, no further details | Productive/non-natural |
Biology and Ecology
Genetics
The chromosome number reported for E. japonica is 2n = 20 (Bir and Sahni, 1988).
Physiology and Phenology
Physiology and Phenology
In China, E. japonica produces flowers and fruits from June to November (Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016). In Pakistan it has been recorded flowering and fruiting from August-October to December (Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
Longevity
Longevity
E. japonica is an annual or short-lived perennial grass. It competes aggressively in disturbed sites and on sandy soils (Barkworth et al., 2004; Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
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 |
Soil Tolerances
Soil texture > light
Soil reaction > acid
Soil reaction > neutral
Soil drainage > seasonally waterlogged
List of Pests
Impact Summary
Category | Impact |
---|---|
Economic/livelihood | Positive and negative |
Environment (generally) | Positive and negative |
Impact: Environmental
E. japonica is a weedy grass impacting principally agricultural lands and disturbed sites. It is also a weed in natural grasslands and riparian areas (Barkworth et al., 2004; Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016; PIER, 2016; PROTA, 2016). Once naturalized, this species has the capability to outcompete native vegetation and alter successional patterns (Barkworth et al., 2004; Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
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
Highly mobile locally
Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
Fast growing
Gregarious
Impact outcomes
Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
Modification of successional patterns
Monoculture formation
Negatively impacts agriculture
Reduced native biodiversity
Threat to/ loss of native species
Impact mechanisms
Competition - monopolizing resources
Herbivory/grazing/browsing
Rapid growth
Likelihood of entry/control
Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
Difficult to identify/detect as a commodity contaminant
Difficult to identify/detect in the field
Uses
E. japonica is a fodder grass and mostly grazed by cattle (Kabeer and Nair, 2009). It is also used as a lactation stimulant in animals. It is considered to be a good fodder for buffaloes in parts of India and Pakistan (Flora of Pakistan, 2016).
Uses List
Environmental > Agroforestry
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.
The herbicides recommended for chemical control of E. japonica include post-emergence applications of 2, 4-D and pre-emergence applications of herbicides such as butachlor, anilophos and pretilachlor (Radanachaless and Maxwell, 1994).
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. |
References
Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Strong MT, 2012. Catalogue of the Seed Plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 98:1192 pp. Washington DC, USA: Smithsonian Institution. http://botany.si.edu/Antilles/WestIndies/catalog.htm
Barkworth ME, Capels KM, Long S, Piep MB, 2004. Eragrostis. Flora of North America, volume 25. http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/
Bir SS, Sahni M, 1988. 23118-131.
Clayton WD, Govaerts R, Harman KT, Williamson H, Vorontsova M, 2016. World Checklist of Poaceae. Richmond, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
DAISIE, 2016. Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories for Europe. European Invasive Alien Species Gateway. www.europe-aliens.org/default.do
Flora of China Editorial Committee, 2016. Flora of China. St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Missouri Botanical Garden and Harvard University Herbaria. http://www.efloras.org/flora_page.aspx?flora_id=2
Flora of Pakistan, 2016. Flora of Pakistan/Pakistan Plant Database (PPD). St. Louis, Missouri and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Tropicos website. http://www.tropicos.org/Project/Pakistan
I3N-Brasil, 2016. National database of exotic invasive species (Base de dados nacional de especies exoticas invasora). Santa Catarina, Brazil: Instituto Horus de Dsenvolvimento e Conservacao Ambiental. http://i3n.institutohorus.org.br
India Biodiversity Portal, 2016. http://indiabiodiversity.org/species/list
Kabeer KAA, Nair VJ, 2009. Botanical Survey of India.
Kumar B, 2013. Eragrostis japonica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T177051A7369942. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T177051A7369942.en
Longhi-Wagner HM, 2016. Eragrostis in Lista de Espécies da Flora do Brasil. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/jabot/floradobrasil/FB13206
Lægaard S, Peterson PM, 2001. Gramineae (part 2) Subfamily Chloridoideae. In: Gunnar H, Anderson L, Eds. Flora of Ecuador, 68 pp.
Oviedo Prieto R, Herrera Oliver P, Caluff MG, et al., 2012. National list of invasive and potentially invasive plants in the Republic of Cuba - 2011. (Lista nacional de especies de plantas invasoras y potencialmente invasoras en la República de Cuba - 2011). Bissea: Boletín sobre Conservación de Plantas del Jardín Botánico Nacional de Cuba, 6(Special Issue 1):22-96.
PIER, 2016. Pacific Islands Ecosystems at Risk. Honolulu, USA: HEAR, University of Hawaii. http://www.hear.org/pier/index.htm
PROTA, 2016. PROTA4U web database. Wageningen, Netherlands: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp
Radanachaless T, Maxwell JF, 1994. Multiple Cropping Center Publications.
Sreekumar PV, Nair VJ, 1991. Botanical Survey of India.
Stevens PF, 2012. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/
USDA-ARS, 2016. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, USA. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/tax_search.pl
USDA-NRCS, 2016.
Zuloaga FO, Morrone O, Belgrano MJ, 2008. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. 3348 pp.
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Published online: 19 May 2016
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