Family: Poaceae

Eragrostis barrelieri (Mediterranean love grass, pitted love grass) is an annual grass native to Tropical Africa, Southwestern Asia, and the Mediterranean. It grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome. It is sometimes used as an animal food. It is reported to be naturalized in the Southwestern United States, South America, Southern Africa and Austrialia, as well as Oʻahu, Maui and potentially Kahoʻolawe. This plant has broad climate suitability, tolerates many soil types, and reproduces rapidly, making it a high risk species.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability (can grow in Mediterranean, subtropical and tropical climates)
  
• Naturalized in North and South America
  
• A weed of disturbed ground, cultivated land, sandy soil, gardens, road verges, gravelly roadsides, floodplains
  
• May impact agriculture
  
• Other Eragrostis species are invasive weeds
  
• Tolerates many soil types (not substrate limited)
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-fertile
  
• An annual, reaching maturity in <1 year
  
• Seeds reported to be dispersed by humans, animals, vehicles and as a seed contaminant (although seeds lack any specific dispersal adaptations)

Low Risk Traits:

• Despite reports of weediness, negative impacts have generally not been quantified
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable pasture grass
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control