Eragrostis spectabilis (Pursh) Steud., purple lovegrass 
DESCRIPTION 
Warm-season, perennial bunch grass. 
Height: 1 to 3 feet. 
Leaf blade: 8 to 18 inches long; densely hairy; stiffly ascend- 
ing when young; tapers to fine point. 
Leaf sheath: Longer than internodes; covered with long, 
gray hair. 
Ligule: Hairy. 
Seedhead: Open panicle 1 to 2 feet long and about as wide, 
bright purple until maturity; tuft of hair in axil of seed- 
stalks; spikelets 6- to 12-flowered. 
GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS 
Growth starts in early spring and continues into fall. Grows in 
colonies. Never makes up large percentage of plant composition. 
Seedheads are weak, break off easily, and tumble in the wind. 
Some plants produce short, slender rhizomes. 
DISTRIBUTION 
All states east of Rocky Mountains. 
SITE ADAPTATION 
Primarily adapted to medium- and coarse-textured soils. 
USE AND MANAGEMENT 
Purple lovegrass is readily grazed by livestock in spring and 
early summer. On heavily grazed areas, deer dig up and eat the 
basal part of the stem during winter. 
This grass adds variety to livestock diet but is seldom abundant 
enough to be a key management species. It makes maximum pro- 
duction when no more than 50 percent of current year’s growth by 
weight is grazed off. A summer grazing deferment of at least 90 
days improves plant vigor. This grass increases under controlled 
annual burning. 
91 
