Purple Lovegrass: Eragrostis spectabilis
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Weed Description: A perennial grass weed with rhizomes that has a relatively large, open panicle that is purple in color. Purple lovegrass is primarily a weed of pastures, hayfields, and noncrop areas and is found throughout the southeastern United States. |
| Leaves: Leaves are rolled in the bud and may reach as much as 16 inches in length and are 2 to 11 mm wide. Both leaf surfaces usually have hairs, especially at the collar regions, but some plants can be found with leaves without hairs (glabrous). Ligules are membranous and are much less than 1 mm long. Auricles are absent. |  |
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Stems: Leaf sheaths are round
and hairy, especially at the collar region. Roots: Rhizomes and a fibrous root system. Flowers: Seedhead an open panicle that may be as much as two-thirds the entire height of the plant. The panicles have a bright purple tint due to the individual purple spikelets that are approximately 1 to 6 mm long and 1 1/2 mm wide. |
| Identifying Characteristics: The distinctive purple panicle, low-growing habit, rhizomes, and leaves that have long hairs especially near the collar region are all characteristics that help to distinguish purple lovegrass from most other grass weeds. |  |