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Eragrostis falcata

(Gaudich.) Gaudich. ex Steudel

Sickle Lovegrass, Mallee lovegrass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 31 iNaturalist observations

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Description

An erect tufted grass. It keeps growing from year to year. The stem are slender and rise from a bulb like base. The leaf blades are very narrow. They are 2-8 cm long. The flowering stalk is a loose panicle 5-20 cm long. The spikelets are widely spaced. They are 5-15 mm long and narrow. They are slightly curved when mature.

Edible Uses

The seeds are eaten as a cereal.

Distribution

It grows in light and medium textured soils. They are often in low and medium rainfall areas. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Notes

There are about 300 Eragrostis species.

References (9)

  • Cancilla, D., 2018, Ethnobotanical and Ethnozoological Values Desktop Assessment - Eliwana Project. p 11
  • Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 189
  • Kenneally, K.E., Edinger, D. C., and Willing T., 1996, Broome and Beyond, Plants and People of the Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley, Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management. p 220
  • Latz, P.K., 1996, Bushfires and Bushtucker: Aboriginal plant use in Central Australia. IAD Press Alice Springs p 168
  • Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 92
Show all 9 references
  • Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 105
  • Petheram, R.J. and Kok, B., 2003, Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. UWA Press p 133
  • Smith, K & I., 1999, Grow your own bushfoods. New Holland. Australia. p 88
  • Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 1164

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