Eragrostis amabilis (L.) Wight & Arn.
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Eragrostis amabilis (L.) Wight & Arn.
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Gramineae Synonyms
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Author: L.’t Mannetje |
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Common names Bug's egg grass, Japanese love-grass (En). Indonesia: suket emprit-empritan (Javanese), jukut karukuan (Sundanese), luh-buluhan (Madura). Laos: hnhaaz nhung. Thailand: ya harng krarork. Origin and geographic distribution E. amabilis occurs throughout the tropics of the Old World, also in South-East Asia and the Himalayas (32°N, 76°E). It has been introduced to tropical America. A small tufted annual grass, with erect or ascendent culms, up to 60 cm tall. Leaf-sheath 2-4 cm long, light purple, hairy at the mouth; ligule a ring of fine soft hairs; leaf-blade narrowly linear with broad base and acute tip, up to 13 cm x 7 mm, glabrous, often tinged purple. Inflorescence a terminal panicle, up to 35 cm long, open, sometimes hairy at the axils, the branches spreading and bearing oblong not sticky yellowish glands; spikelets 4-8-flowered, up to 3.5 mm long, strongly compressed, breaking up from the apex, all flowers bisexual or the upper ones rudimentary; palea-keels ciliate. Caryopsis ellipsoidal, 0.5-0.7 mm long, golden-brown. Based on the habit of the inflorescence (spreading or more contracted), two botanical varieties have been distinguished (Umamaheswari and Daniel 1998). Use E. amabilis is grazed by cattle and water buffaloes in traditional feeding systems. It is a weed of minor agricultural importance (Häfliger and Scholz 1981). Properties It is regarded as a low quality forage because of its low leaf/stem ratio. The grain is reputed to be very nutritious (Holm 1971). Toxicity None has been reported Ecology E. amabilis is common on open waste ground from sea-level up to 1400 m altitude. It can be found on old walls, roadsides and dykes, usually in areas with a pronounced dry season. Soil requirements E. amabilis is adapted to sandy soils. Propagation and planting It is not deliberately sown but spreads naturally by seed. Growth and development Seeds of E. amabilis germinate at the beginning of the rainy season and it grows quickly, thus producing green feed early in the season. It flowers profusely throughout the year. Performance A very small amount of leaf is produced and DM yields are low. It is fed green but could be dried and conserved. It can be cut by hand, but as it has a very weak root system farmers normally dig up whole plants and feed them to livestock. It is unlikely that E. amabilis will ever be deliberately established as a forage crop (Manidool 1992). Links
Link for the genus
Häfliger E. and Scholz H. (1981); Holm J. (1971); Manidool C. (1992); Umamaheswari P. and Daniel P. (1998) |