Eragrostis minor

4. Eragrostis minor Host (syn.: E. poaeoides Beauv. ex Roem. et Schult.) (Medit., As.) – A commonly naturalised and increasing species, especially in Flanders. Eragrostis minor was already present in Belgium before 1835 (without further details) but long remained strictly ephemeral. Its true naturalisation started in the 1980’s, perhaps at first around Gent but subsequently also near and in other large cities. At present it is very common in most (sub-) urban areas of Flanders and increasingly found along motor- and railways in other parts of Belgium. In Wallonia Eragrostis minor is much rarer and at present confined to some larger urban areas (Liège, Mons, Tournai,…). It is usually found in cracks of pavement, foot of walls, gravelly and sandy areas,… and certainly is one of the most successful neophytes of the past decades.

The exact vector of introduction of Eragrostis minor in Belgium remains unclear (building materials?). It is primarily spread by traffic and might have been introduced this way as well.

Eragrostis barrelieri is a very similar, Mediterranean species and may be overlooked. It is nearly identical in general habit and grows in similar, disturbed habitats. It is distinguished by the absence of crateriform glands on the leaf margins, the longer lemmas (mostly more than 2 mm long) and the presence of a glandular band just below the inflorescence. It was formerly recorded as a wool alien in the valley of river Vesdre and recently re-occurred in containers with olive trees in plant nurseries.

Herbarium specimen

Eragrostis minor, Lokeren, urban weed, September 2010, E. Molenaar.

Eragrostis minor, spikelet - Drawing S.Bellanger                        Eragrostis minor, glume - Drawing S.Bellanger


 


Selected literature:

Feder J. (2002) Zur Verbreitung des Kleinen Liebesgrases (Eragrostis minor Host 1809) in Niedersachsen und Bremen. Beiträge zur Naturkunde Niedersachsens 55: 53-63.

Jongepier J.W. (1983) Nieuwe vondsten van Eragrostis minor Host, E. pilosa (L.) Beauv. en andere van oorsprong adventieve grassen in 1982. Gorteria 10: 234-236.

Kuhbier H. (1977) Ein weiterer Beitrag zur Einbürgerung des Kleinen Liebesgrases (Eragrostis poaeoides P.B.) in Nordwestdeutschland. Mitteilungen der floristisch-soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft 19-20: 63-65.

Küsel H. (1968) Zur Einbürgerung des Kleinen Liebesgrases (Eragrostis poaeoides P. B.) in Nordwestdeutschland. Mitteilungen der floristisch-soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft 13: 10-13.

Saintenoy-Simon J., Godefroid S. & Verhelpen B. (1995) Groupe Flore Bruxelloise. Notes floristiques relatives à la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale (1991-1993). Adoxa 6-7: 27-37.

Siede E. (2001) Eragrostis minor im nordwestlichen Landkreis Regensburg. Hoppea 62: 437-438.

Van der Meijden R. & Weeda E.J. (1982) Eragrostis pilosa (L.) Beauv. en E. minor Host in Nederland. Gorteria 11: 106-113.

Van Landuyt W. (2006a) Eragrostis minor. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de Flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels Gewest. Instituut voor natuur- en bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 377-378.

Van Landuyt W., Verloove F. & Heyneman G. (2002) Verspreiding en status van Eragrostis-soorten in de omgeving van Gent. Dumortiera 79: 3-8.

Verloove F. (2002) Ingeburgerde plantensoorten in Vlaanderen. Mededeling van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud n° 20: 227 p.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith