13. Eragrostis pectinacea (Michx.) Nees (Carolina love grass)

Pl. 146 g, h; Map 601

Plants annual, forming tufts. Flowering stems 8–60 cm long, erect to spreading, glabrous. Leaf sheaths usually with a tuft or line of hairs at the tip, otherwise glabrous, the ligule 0.2–0.7 mm long. Leaf blades 2–15 cm long, 1–5 mm wide, flat or with the margins inrolled, glabrous or roughened on the upper surface near the base. Inflorescences relatively open, broad panicles 3–20 cm long, 1/3–1/2 the size of the entire plant, ovate to triangular in outline, the main branches loosely ascending to spreading, the smaller branches appressed to the main ones or less commonly spreading, the main axis sometimes slightly roughened. Spikelets 3.5–11 mm long, 1.0–2.5 mm wide, short‑ to long‑stalked, appressed to the inflorescence branches or less commonly spreading, with (3–)6–20 perfect florets. Pattern of disarticulation beginning with the glumes, then the lemmas and fruits shed, usually leaving the persistent paleas and rachilla. Lower glume 0.7–1.5 mm long, 2/3–3/4 as long as the adjacent lemma, lanceolate, somewhat roughened along the midnerve. Upper glume 1.0–1.6 mm long, narrowly ovate, somewhat roughened along the midnerve. Lemmas 1.4–2.2 mm long, ovate, sharply pointed at the tip, keeled, the lateral nerves usually relatively conspicuous, roughened on the midnerve. Anthers 0.2–0.4 mm long. Fruits 0.7–1.0 mm long, oblong in outline, slightly flattened, yellowish brown to reddish brown. 2n=60. July–October.

Common nearly throughout the state (U.S., Mexico, Central America, Caribbean Islands). Banks of streams and rivers, margins of ponds and lakes, edges of bottomland forests, and less commonly upland prairies and glades, often in sandy soil; also fallow fields, old fields, levees, ditches, roadsides, railroads, and open, disturbed areas.

Steyermark (1963) referred earlier reports of E. mexicana (Hornem.) Link and E. neomexicana Vasey to this species. Missouri materials may be separated into two fairly distinct varieties. A third variety, var. tracyi (Hitchc.) P.M. Peterson, is endemic to Florida and differs in its larger anthers (0.5–0.7 mm).