Eustachys distichophylla (Lag.) Nees

Weeping Finger Grass

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Weeping Finger Grass is an introduced perennial in the Grass family (Poaceae). It is native to southern South America but has been introduced in Australia and North America. In addition to Alabama, it has been reported from California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas. In Alabama in is currently known from a single county (Pike). Weeping Finger Grass occurs on roadsides, in pastures, around the edges of fields, and under powerline right-of-ways. It is a clump forming warm season grass. Leaves are flat or conduplicate (folded lengthwise), linear, with entire margins. The leaf sheath is keeled, and the leaves are often glaucous. Flowers are produced in spikelets. The spikelets are arranged in flexuous, digitate racemes of 14-28. The fruit is a grain. Weeping Finger Grass was possibly introduced as a warm season forage grass for livestock. It is also sometimes grown as an ornamental, and both seed and plants are available from some nurseries. This species was first collected in Alabama by Alvin Diamond in 2008 from a roadside in Pike County.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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