Eragrostis mexicana

Mexican Lovegrass


Eragrostis mexicana or Mexican Lovegrass

Eragrostis mexicana, common name Mexican Lovegrass.

 Closer View of Inflorescence

Mexican Lovegrass is Eragrostis, a Lovegrass, and like all Lovegrasses (16 species in Arizona), the spikelets look like spear points.

 Closer View of Spikelets

This view starts to show the spear point shapes.

Small Complete Plants

A collection of eight plants. Some have a spike-like seedhead.

 An Entire Plant

This entire plant is cut in two to fit it on the page. Some leaves are thin, some flat and wider.

 Fresh Seedhead

Closer view.

These Spikelets Look Brown in Lamplight

Many Lovegrasses look just like this one,

 Lovegrass Spikelets

This shows the perfect little shapes of the 1/4 inch spikelets.

 Lovegrass Roots

Roots of Mexican Lovegrass.

How to Identify Mexican Lovegrass

  Eragrostis mexicana is one of the lovegrasses, a genus of very similar species, 16 in Arizona. Mexican Lovegrass is very similar to many of the other species, especially the invasive, ubiquitous species Eragrostis lehmanniana which is taking over some of Arizona's desert regions. Mexican Lovegrass won't be on the test--identify it at your own peril.

Similar Species

  The lovegrasses of Arizona are mostly quite similar, but Stinkgrass, Weeping Lovegrass, Sawtooth Lovegrass, and Teal Lovegrass are easy. Stinkgrass has comparitively large, whitish spikelets. Weeping Lovegrass has extremely long (two feet long!) leaves whose ends curl. Sawtooth Lovegrass, of the deserts only, has roundish spikelets that are quite un-lovegrass-like. Teal Lovegrass is the only tiny one: 8 inches high or less.