Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Eragrostis tef, commonly known as tef, teff, or Abyssinian love grass, is a warm-season annual grass native to the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia. It is a fine-stemmed, tufted grass that grows up to about 1 meter tall, with delicate, feathery seed heads. Tef is highly valued as a staple grain in Ethiopian cuisine, where its tiny seeds are ground into flour for making injera, a traditional flatbread. Beyond its culinary use, tef is also cultivated for livestock forage and erosion control in some regions due to its dense root system and tolerance of a variety of soil types.

Risks & Threats
Although Eragrostis tef is not currently naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands and has been extirpated from O‘ahu, it does possess traits that could raise concern. Its small, easily dispersed seeds and adaptability to different soils suggest it could establish in disturbed habitats if reintroduced. Additionally, like other Eragrostis species, it has the potential to compete with native grasses and alter local ecosystems. Further evaluation is needed to determine whether tef could become invasive in Hawaii and negatively impact native plant communities or agricultural areas.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad climate suitability; elevation range exceeds 2000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Grows in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized in a number of locations
  
• Designated as a weed of unspecified impacts
  
• Other Eragrostis species are invasive
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Self-pollinating
  
• Annual grass, reaching maturity in 2-6 months
  
• Seeds intentionally by people and in animal dung
  
• Prolific seed production
  
• Seeds may persist in the soil
  
• Tolerates grazing and mowing

Low Risk Traits:

• Domesticated grass
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Provides fodder for livestock
  
• Grain crop
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Non-shattering Infructescence; seeds remain attached to the rachis at maturity and may limit accidental dispersal
  
• Herbicides, if needed, may provide effective control