Scientific Name: ERAGROSTIS TRICHODES
Common Name: SAND LOVEGRASS
Erosion Index: GOOD
Erosion Index Value: 6.67
Wildlife Index: GOOD
Wildlife Index Value: 5.38
Ecological Distribution: PINEYWOODS, POST OAK SAVANNAH, BLACKLAND PRAIRIES, CROSS TIMBERS AND PRAIRIES, SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS, EDWARDS PLATEAU, ROLLING PLAINS, HIGH PLAINS, TRANS-PECOS
Topographic Tolerance: UPLAND
Elevation Tolerance: SEA LEVEL - 2000', 2000' - 4000'
Slope Tolerance: LEVEL TO GENTLY SLOPING, MODERATE OR UNDULATING SLOPES
Aspect Tolerance: NORTH ORIENTATION PREFERENCE, EAST ORIENTATION PREFERENCE, TOLERANT ACROSS RANGE
Light Tolerance: TOLERANT TO FULL SUN
Wetland Regional Indicator: OBLIGATE UPLAND
Physical Form: GRASS
Habit: OTHER
Life Cycle: PERENNIAL
Seed Age: 1 TO 4 YEARS OLD
Seed Interval: 1 YEAR OR LESS
Growth: RAPID GROWTH, SHORT-LIVED, TUFTED BUNCHGRASS, DEEP ROOTED
Hardiness: DROUGHT TOLERANT, GRAZING INTOLERANT, INSECT INTOLERANT, COLD TOLERANT
Vegetative Growth Period: APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP
Flowering Period: JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT
Fruiting Period: AUG, SEP, OCT
Soil Moisture: WELL-DRAINED ONLY
Soil Texture: TOLERANT TO LOAMY SOILS, TOLERANT TO SANDY SOILS
Soil Fertility: TOLERANT OVER WIDE FERTILITY RANGE
Parent Material: UNKNOWN
Soil pH: NEUTRAL, SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Optimum pH: SLIGHTLY ALKALINE
Soil Depth: WIDE RANGE OF SOIL DEPTHS
Salinity: OBLIGATE TO NON-SALINE (FRESH) SOIL/WATER CONDITIONS
Short-term Biomass: LOW
Short-term Pest: LOW
Long-term Biomass: MEDIUM
Long-term Pest: LOW
Dominance Characteristics: COMPONENT
Honeybee Relations: POLLINATED WITHOUT BEES, NOT HONEY PRODUCING
Parasite Host Potential: NONE KNOWN
Food for Wildlife/Livestock: CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, HORSES
Small Mammal Food: FAIR
Large Mammal Food: EXCELLENT
Upland Game Birds Food: FAIR
Waterfowl Food: FAIR
Nongame Birds Food: FAIR
Small Mammal Cover: GOOD
Large Mammal Cover: FAIR
Upland Game Birds Cover: GOOD
Waterfowl Cover: FAIR
Nongame Birds Cover: GOOD
Toxicity Potential: LOW
Toxicity Season:  
Effectiveness Period: SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM
Raindrop Impact: LOW
Erosion Hardiness: MEDIUM
Ease of Propagation: MEDIUM
Soil Binding: MEDIUM
Soil Enrichment Potential: LOW
Nitrogen Fixation Potential: LOW
Growth Inhibitor Production: LOW
Source Availability: COMMON LOCAL RETAIL NURSERY OR SEED OUTLET
Seed Germination Ratio: MEDIUM
Reproduction: SEEDS, TILLERS
Seed Dispersal Success Potential: MAMMALS, WIND
Seed Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Cuttings Establishment Success Potential: LOW
Transplanting Establishment Success Potential: MEDIUM
Establishment Time Interval: OVER 3 YEARS
Recommended Establishment: SEEDS
Relative Expense: MODERATELY EXPENSIVE
Notes: - The "ice-cream grass" of the prarie because of the palatability. - Easily established by seeding.

Associated Species:

ALABAMA SUPPLEJACK AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY
BEAKED PANICUM BIG BLUESTEM
BLACK HICKORY BLACKJACK OAK
BLUEJACK OAK BROOMSEDGE BLUESTEM
BROWNSEED PASPALUM CHICKASAW PLUM
COMMON TRUMPET-CREEPER CORALBERRY
EASTERN REDCEDAR ELBOWBUSH
ELM SPP. ESCARPMENT LIVE OAK
HACKBERRY SPP. HAIRY GRAMA
HAVARD OAK HAWTHORN SPP.
HONEY MESQUITE LEADPLANT
LITTLE BLUESTEM LIVE OAK
NARROWLEAF WOODOATS POST OAK
PURPLETOP ROUNDHEAD BUSHCLOVER
SAND BLUESTEM SAND DROPSEED
SESSILELEAF TICKCLOVER SIDEOATS GRAMA
SILVER BLUESTEM SLENDER LESPEDEZA
SLICKSEED WILDBEAN SLIMLEAF SCURFPEA
SUMAC SPP. SWITCHGRASS
WILD BLUE INDIGO YAUPON
YELLOW INDIANGRASS