Derivation
Eragrostis Wolf, Gen. Sp. Pl. 23 (1776); from the Greek, eros (loving), together with Agrostis, the Greek name of an indeterminate herb.

Or from the Greek er (early) and agrostris (wild). Species of Eragrostis are commonly early invaders of arable land.

Or from the Greek eri, an inseparable particle used as a prefix to strengthen a word in the sense of very much, that is a many-floreted Agrostis.

paniciformis- resembling Panicum with respect to the inflorescence.

Published in
Syn. Pl. Glum. 1: 268 (1854).

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Rootstock not evident. Culms erect or decumbent, 65–90 cm tall. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, 0.3–0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, persistent, flat or involute or convolute, 3–15 cm long, 2–5 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle open, ovate, 4–22 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading. Panicle branches bearing congested spikelets.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels filiform. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 10–26 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 4–9 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets rhachilla persistent. Spikelets shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes obscured by lemmas.

Glumes
Glumes deciduous, similar. Lower glume ovate, 2–3 mm long, 100% length of upper glume, 1-keeled, 1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acute or acuminate. Upper glume ovate, 2–3 mm long, 100% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, 1-keeled, 1-nerved. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume apex acute or acuminate.

Florets
Fertile lemma ovate, gibbous, 2–2.7 mm long, membranous, dark green or grey, 3-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves distinct, close to margins. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma apex obtuse or acute or cuspidate, muticous. Palea elliptic or obovate, with flaps narrower than body. Palea keels wingless, ciliolate (at least upper florets). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Anthers 3, 0.5–1 mm long. Grain with adherent pericarp, ellipsoid, 0.8–1.2 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Africa, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland: Moreton, Wide Bay.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae

Notes
Introduced; scattered from Maryborough to Brisbane in SE Qld; native to tropical East Africa. Flowers Apr.–May and Nov.; fruits Apr.–May and Nov.
A weed.