Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana
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| Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana |
Common names
Lehmann love grass, Lehmann's love grass
Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana is one of the many grasses that I have collected and have growing on my property in Mount Moreland. This particular species that I collected in Jwaneng in Botswana has been grown because of its most beautiful blue to grey colouration.
Description
Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana is
a tufted perennial grass. The culms are up to 60-90 cm high with narrow leaves 1-3
mm wide. Panicles are 10-20 cm long, lax and open. Its bunch habit is somewhat
open in that individuals do not form a compact crown with numerous stem bases.
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| Eragrostis lehmanniana var. lehmanniana inflorescens |
Distribution
Eragrostis lehmanniana is native to Southern
Africa where it occurs over much of the summer rainfall area. Eragrostis
lehmanniana is adapted to semi-arid, tropical and subtropical summer-rainfall
areas and is fairly tolerant of drought.
Habitat
Eragrostis lehmanniana flourishes in areas
of low rainfall of 300-500 mm in particular in sandy soils of pH 7.0-8.5. Eragrostis
lehmanniana is common in several habitat types such as Acacia woodland and
Kalahari grasslands and savanna. It tolerates high pH caused by calcium and
magnesium rather than by sodium. It is often found in areas where disturbance
or over grazing has taken place.
Eragrostis lehmanniana is a very productive
grass. In South Africa, reported yields are 6-7 tons dry mass per hectare per
year.
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Uses
Eragrostis lehmanniana is a valuable
grazing grass in the more arid regions where it is one of the first grasses to
sprout in the spring and after rains. Eragrostis lehmanniana is also widely
used for reseeding disturbed areas because it gives a rapid soil cover.
Forage management
Eragrostis lehmanniana should not be too
closely grazed and must be well established before being grazed. Only half the
annual growth should be grazed off, but it can be continuously grazed for
maximum production. However, a late summer rest improved the total available
carbohydrates, crude protein and phosphorus contents, and allows the grass to
seed.
