(Greek, er, spring, and agrostis, a grass). Gramineae. Love-Grass. Annual or perennial grasses with more or less diffuse panicles of small several-flowered compressed spikelets. Some species grown in the open for ornament.

From 6 in. to several feet tall: culms simple or often branched; lemmas keeled, 3-nerved, the palea ciliate on the keels. - Species about 100 in warm and temperate regions of both hemispheres.

Some annual species are common weeds, such as E. megastachya, Link (E. major, Host), Stink- or Snake-Grass, with rather large, ill-smelling spikelets in a compact panicle. Dept. Agric, Div. Agrost. 17:215. E. pectinacea, Nees, a native of U. S., is a handsome perennial, with large open panicles of purple spikelets. Well adapted to cult, in sandy soils. Ibid 17:261. E. obtusa, Munro (Briza geniculata, Thurb.), an annual with showy spikelets, is cult, in Eu., but little known in U.S. V:3:247.

Abyssinica

Link (Poa abyssinica, Jacq.). Teff. A branching and spreading leafy annual, 1-3 ft.: panicle large and open, 1 ft. long, the branches capillary; spikelets numerous, loosely 5-9-flowered, 3-4 lines long; lemmas acuminate, scaberulous on the tip and nerves. Africa - This and the following are cult, for ornament, the spreading panicles being used for bouquets. The abundant seed used for making bread in N. E. Africa

Suaveolens

Becker (E. collina, Trin.). Fig. 1405. A spreading leafy annual, 1-2 ft., differing from the preceding in the less diffuse panicles, the more compact spikelets and the less acuminate lemmas. W. Asia.

Fig. 1405. Eragrostis suaveolens. (X 1/4)

Interrupta

Doell (E. elegans, Nees). An erect annual, 1-2 ft.: panicle feathery, 1 ft. long, rather narrow, the branches ascending, closely flowered with numerous small spikelets. Brazil.

Amabilis

Wight & Arn. (Poa amabilis, Linn.). Erect or spreading annual, 1-2 ft.: panicles small, 4-6 in., rather compact; spikelets purple, many-flowered, 3 lines long, 1 line wide. India.

Maxima

Baker. An erect, robust annual, 2-3 ft.: blades lanceolate, cordate at base: panicle erect, lax, 6-9 in. long and broad, the pedicels capillary; spikelets oblong, 1/3-1/2in. long. Madagascar.

, A. S. Hitchcock.