Family: Poaceae
purple love grass, tumble grass
[Eragrostis spectabilis var. sparsihirsuta (Pursh) Steud., more...]
Robert H. Read
Emmet J. Judziewicz
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Eragrostis: Greek er for "spring" and agrotis for "grass"
Plants: perennial grass
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: perennial grass
Conservation Status: Native
Dry prairies, pine barrens, oak barrens, sandstone cliffs and outcrops, openings in oak or oak-pine woods, fields, along roadsides and railroads, sandblows, gravel pits, dry beaches, sometimes on river sandbars. A common component of dry prairies and found throughout sandy areas of the state, especially in the Central Sands, on sandy outwash along the Wisconsin River, and bluff prairies along the Mississippi River. Records from Milwaukee Co. are probably adventive. The large, purple inflorescences are a distinctive “tumbleweed” in late season.
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 3, Wetland Indicator = UPL Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Grasses of Iowa: Detailed photographs, descriptions, maps
Robert H. Read
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Robert W. Freckmann
