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Eragrostis pilosa - (L.)P.Beauv.

Common Name Soft Love Grass, Indian lovegrass
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 6-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Roadsides, waste places and old fields[43].
Range Warm Temperate regions.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Eragrostis pilosa Soft Love Grass, Indian lovegrass


Tracey Slotta @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Eragrostis pilosa Soft Love Grass, Indian lovegrass
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 240.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Eragrostis pilosa is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Seed - ground into a flour and used as a cereal[105]. It is generally seen as a famine food, but is used regularly in some areas[177]. The seed is very small and fiddly to utilize[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Vulnerary

The plant is said to be an effective cure for contusions[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any good loam or humus-rich soil in a sunny position[162]. Prefers a light soil[1]. Plants are harvested (from the wild?[K]) on a regular basis in E. Africa for their edible seed[177].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. The seed can also be sown in situ in mid to late spring, though in a cool summer it may fail to ripen many seeds[162].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation-Eastern Siberia (Eastern Siberia), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Russian Federation-Far East (Far East), China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Indochina, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas (northwest)) EUROPE: Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part (European part (south)), Russian Federation (Kalmykija, Respublika, Astrakhan, Saratov, Volgogradskaja oblast), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa (Cape Province, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Transvaal)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Eragrostis carolinianaTufted lovegrassAnnual0.5 0-0  LMHNDM10 
Eragrostis curvulaWeeping Love GrassPerennial1.2 6-9  LMHNM103
Eragrostis tefTefAnnual1.0 8-11  LMHNDM30 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)P.Beauv.

Botanical References

143200

Links / References

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