Mexican love grass (Eragrostis mexicana, Hort. Berol. 1: 190 (1827))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Hornem.) Link

Bibliography: Hort. Berol. 1: 190 (1827)

Year: 1827

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Eragrostis

Vegetable: False

Observations: N. America to Argentina

Description

The Mexican love grass, known scientifically as Eragrostis mexicana, is a notable member of the Poaceae family. This grass species was first described in 1827 by the botanist Hornem. and later classified by Link, with its bibliographic reference documented in Hort. Berol. 1: 190.

Eragrostis mexicana has a broad geographical distribution, extending from North America all the way to Argentina. This wide-ranging habitat is indicative of its adaptability to various climates and conditions, marking it as a resilient and versatile plant within the grass family.

The Mexican love grass is particularly recognized for its lush, feathery appearance, which has not only ecological importance but also aesthetic value. It tends to thrive in open fields, meadows, and along roadsides, often contributing to soil stability and preventing erosion.

Its adaptability makes it a species of interest for both natural landscapes and controlled environments such as gardens and urban green spaces. The Mexican love grass’s ability to proliferate across diverse regions underscores its ecological significance and highlights its importance in studies of plant distribution and adaptability within the Poaceae family.

Common Names

Eng: mexican love grass, mexican lovegrass
Deu: mexikanisches liebesgras
Dan: mexikansk kærlighedsgræs
Ita: panicella
Swe: mexikanskt kärleksgräs
Hun: mexikói tőtippan*
Fra: éragrostide du mexique, éragrostis du mexique
Nno: amerikafriargras
Nob: amerikafriergras
En: Mexican love grass, Mexican lovegrass
Da: Mexikansk kærlighedsgræs
Fr: Éragrostide du Mexique, Éragrostis du Mexique
De: Mexikanisches Liebesgras
Hu: Mexikói tőtippan*
It: Panicella
Nb: Amerikafriergras
Nn: Amerikafriargras
Sv: Mexikanskt kärleksgräs

Synonyms

• Eragrostis limbata (E.Fourn.)
• Eragrostis virescens subsp. verloovei (Portal)
• Poa alba ((J.Presl) Kunth)
• Eragrostis neomexicana (Vasey ex L.H.Dewey)
• Eragrostis alba (J.Presl)
• Eragrostis limbata f. densiuscula (Hack.)
• Eragrostis pauciflora (Trin. ex E.Fourn.)
• Eragrostis glandulosa (L.H.Harv.)
• Eragrostis limbata var. major (E.Fourn.)
• Eragrostis orcuttiana (Vasey)
• Eragrostis purshii var. major (E.Fourn.)
• Eragrostis nigricans var. punensis (Nicora)
• Eragrostis mexicana var. pilosior (Döll)
• Eragrostis mexicana var. pygmaea (Döll)

Distribution

• Argentina Northeast (native)
• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Argentina South (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Brazil North (native)
• Brazil Northeast (native)
• Brazil South (native)
• Brazil Southeast (native)
• Brazil West-Central (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Colombia (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Ecuador (native)
• El Salvador (native)
• Florida (native)
• Galápagos (native)
• Greece (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Maine (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• Nicaragua (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Peru (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Texas (native)
• Uruguay (native)
• Utah (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Washington (native)
• Austria (introduced)
• Azores (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 11, 2022 by sachin sharma (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2020 by Tabby Wise (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Fruit

Taken Jul 3, 2019 by Aboozar Esmaeili (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2019 by brennan john (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Apr 11, 2020 by Lucy C (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Other

Taken Sep 4, 2014 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2011 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Sep 4, 2014 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2014 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2014 by OTS – Oviedo-Brenes, Federico (cc-by-nc-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2705339)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1141212-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Eragrostis mexicana (Hornem.) Link)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Graminoid

Growth