Southern Wetland Flora
Field Office Guide to Plant Species
Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud.
- Family: Grass (Poaceae)
- Flowering: July-October
- Field Marks: The thread-like, bright pink branchlets and the several-flowered spikelets of the seed head distinguish this species.
- Habitat: Moist to dry soils in old fields, along roads.
- Habit: Perrennial grass, with a short rhizome.
- Stems: Upright, smooth, up to 2 feet long.
- Leaves: Elongated, narrow, smooth, up to 1/3 inch wide; sheaths smooth or hairy.
- Flowers: Arranged in spikelets on thread-like stalks; spikelets with 3-15 flowers, arranged in large pink panicles larger than the remainder of the plant.
- Spikelets: Up to 1/3 inch long, up to 1/10 inch wide.
- Stamens: Usually 3.
- Pistils: Ovary superior.
- Notes: The large pink panicle usually breaks off in its entirety and rolls along with the wind. It is sometimes called the tumbleweed lovegrass.
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