Eragrostis curvula

Weeping Lovegrass

Field view of Eragrostis curvula, common name Weeping Lovegrass.

Unlike other Lovegrasses, the spikelets are crowded on the extended branches.

Immature plants are more spike-like, with a closed panicle.

Spikelets are crowded on the branches and rachis (stem).

Showing the spear-point shapes of the spikelets.

Spikelets will have 3 to 10 florets.

Weeping Lovegrass is a perennial. The base of the plant is full and shows last year's leaves.

This is the top of the previous photo, showing the long, thin, curved leaf blades. These can be 2 feet long!

This panicle is in anthesis, with anthers full of pollen.

The tiny anthers have a cute X-shape.

A few spikelets showing the three veins on the glumes.

This spikelet has only two florets.

How to Identify Weeping Lovegrass

  This is a medium-tall perennial of the pine forests with skinny, curvy leaves two feet long. Unlike other lovegrasses, the branches and rachis are quite crowded with spikelets and these have fewer florets than most. The spikelets have no awns.

Similar Species

  Here are unidentified photos of more "normal" lovegrasses, usually having less crowded spikelets than Weeping Lovegrass. Normally Weeping Lovegrass has fewer florets per spikelet as well, depriving it of a spear-point shape. Spikelets shown below are only about 1/8 to 1/4 inches long.
  For a Lovegrass beginner, I suggest trying to identify only Teal, Sawtooth, and Weeping Lovegrass plus the easy Stinkgrass. When you see tiny spear-points, just call the others "lovegrasses." In the deserts of southern Arizona, the most common (and highly invasive) lovegrass is Eragrostis lehmanniana (Leymann's Lovegrass).