Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees

Weeping Lovegrass, African Lovegrass, Boar Lovegrass, Curved Lovegrass, Catalina Lovegrass

Category
Grass

Description

Weeping lovegrass is an introduced forage and soil protection grasses that are becoming invasive in southwestern states. They are now listed as noxious weeds in Arizona and portions of New Mexico. Weeping lovegrass grows erect in bunches, 24 to 60 inches tall and grows rapidly. Weeping lovegrass grows mostly in summer and is slow to regrow after it is grazed. Seed heads grow as an open panicle with lax or drooping branches.

Stem

The plant is generally erect, but stems may bend at the lower nodes—the whole plant often adopts a weeping habit.

Leaves

Leaf blades flat to slightly rolled under along margins (weeping lovegrass 5 to 20 inches long; 0.04 to 0.11 inch wide). Weeping lovegrass may have long, soft hairs near the base; ligules are ciliate.

Flowers

The young flower head may be compact but then spreads, and seed heads can be up to 30 cm long.

Fruit

Spikelets/seeds have the typical overlapping herringbone feature of all Eragrostis species.

Images

Photo: James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
More images of Eragrostis curvula

Life History

Habitat

Grows in high rainfall areas on sandy or acid to loamy soils, often in disturbed, overgrazed or trampled grassland. Usually prefers open habitat and is found in a wide variety of vegetation types.

Origin and Distribution

Weeping lovegrass is originally from South Africa.

Eragrostis curvula can be found in the following states: USA (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV), USA+ (PR)

Synonyms

Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees var. conferta Stapf
Eragrostis chloromelas Steud.
Eragrostis robusta Stent
Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees var. curvula

h2. Management Recommendation

Mechanical Controls

Any physical disturbance of African lovegrass, such as slashing and ploughing, can promote spread and re-infestation. Therefore, if mechanical practices are necessary they must be carried out carefully and with clean equipment, which must also be cleaned after use. Scattered African lovegrass plants can be chipped out before they flower. Better results will be achieved if chipping out is followed by over-sowing and fertilizing the area. When chipping out the plant ensure that the tussock crowns are removed, as this will prevent regrowth. If in seed, the stems must be cut and bagged first.

Herbicidal Controls

The primary herbicides used for Lehmann and weeping lovegrass control in the United States are glyphosate and imazapyr. However, these are nonselective herbicides and may also impact nontarget species. Therefore, caution should be taken if nontarget plants (including woody species) need to be protected.

When spraying Lehmann or weeping lovegrass, the foliage should be at least 50 percent green; however, better control is obtained when plants are actively growing and are more than 80 percent green. Lovegrass tends to green up 2 to 4 weeks before native grasses in the spring and often stays greener later into the fall and winter. This offers a narrow opportunity for spraying lovegrass while minimizing damage to other desirable species. However, each site scheduled for treatment must be closely evaluated before spraying to determine if the potential harm to the surrounding plant community is acceptable.

A team of applicators walking together side-by-side (about 10 feet apart) is an effective way to spray a defined area systematically; this method is particularly effective for treating smaller, less dense infestations. For large infestations, it may be more practical to use an ATV or UTV sprayer or a conventional boom sprayer that is pulled or mounted to a truck or tractor. After careful evaluation, an aerial application may also be considered as a method for controlling large, monocultural tracts of lovegrass on a landscape basis. Before spaying, always consider the need for reseeding with desirable native grasses following herbicide application.

Use a 2-5% solution of glyphosate when using a backpack sprayer. Spray in fall or spring when lovegrass is actively growing as indicated by bright green and glossy leaves. Best results if lovegrass is at least 50% green.

Use a 1-3% solution of imazapyr when using a backpack sprayer. Spray in fall or spring when lovegrass is actively growing as indicated by bright green and glossy leaves, but desirable grasses are dormant.

Use a 1-1.5% solution of sethoxydim when using a backpack sprayer. Spray on warmer days of spring or fall, preferably when less than 6-10” high.

Manual–chemical strategy – For smaller or isolated populations of lovegrass on otherwise healthy sites, remove by hand using simple tools such as a hoe, shovel, digging bar, or Pulaski. Take care to remove as much of the root as possible. While hand removal can be done at any time of the year, it is easiest when soil is moist, temperatures are cool, and plants are in their early growth stage. Monitor previously treated sites following significant warm season rains and provide followup treatment by hand pulling or spot spraying emerging seedlings with a 2 percent mix of Roundup.


Mechanical–chemical strategy – Tilling with a deep plow is especially suited as a control method in areas previously planted with lovegrass, such as old fields or pastures. Mowing during hot, dry weather and then spraying the regrowth at a later time is suited for roadsides and rights-of-way. Monitor previously treated sites following significant warm season rains and use truck- or ATV-mounted sprayers to apply herbicide during active growth in the fall (as indicated by the appearance of bright green, shiny leaves).


Grazing–chemical strategy – In pasture and rangeland settings, graze Lehmann or weeping lovegrass intensively to eliminate top growth and to stimulate new plant growth. Follow with a chemical treatment during the active growth stage, preferably before seed set. Monitor treated sites after significant warm season rains and provide followup treatment by pulling or spot spraying emerging seedlings.


Prescribed burn–chemical strategy – In areas with a near monoculture of Lehmann or weeping lovegrass, consider a prescribed burn to eliminate top growth and litter. After rain and with 4 to 6 inches of new green growth, use a broadcast herbicide treatment. Monitor and use followup treatments on the burned area. Where feasible, consider reseeding with adaptable native species.

Bibliography

USDA

"Weeping Lovegrass":http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/Safricadata/eragcur.htm

The State of Queensland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 2013. "African Lovegrass":http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/data/assets/pdffile/0011/69284/IPA-African-Lovegrass-PP63.pdf