Eragrostis cilianensis aka Stink Grass

Eragrostis cilianensis is an annual grass in the Poaceae family. Its common names include gray love grass and stinkgrass. It comes from the Old World, across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Its range also reaches Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Guinea. It now grows in warm regions beyond its native range. Habitats include grasslands, woodland, roadsides, and ground disturbed by farming.

The plant forms loose clumps with a fine texture. Its stems stand upright or rise from a slanting base. They may branch or remain unbranched. Reported garden height reaches about 2.6 feet (0.8 metres). One source gives a height of 1.5 feet (0.45 metres). The wider reported range reaches 3 feet (0.9 metres). Plants spread to about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres). The spikelets have an oval outline. This grass can be hard to distinguish from Eragrostis minor. No single trait always separates the two species. Wind carries pollen between the flowers.

Grow this grass in full sun, where soil drains well. It does not grow well in shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, including soils with few nutrients. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. Soil may be dry or moist, and plants withstand drought. PFAF lists USDA zones 6–11 for this species. The grass grows fast and produces many seeds. These seeds allow it to return without sowing each year.

Its loose form can suit informal garden plantings. Yet it can also look weedy and spread without help. Useful Tropical Plants describes it as a weed of crops. It has become a pest in parts of the United States. It also grows as a weed on irrigated land in Sudan. People use it to help restore eroded ground. Its roots help hold soil, while birds and small animals eat its seeds.

People gather the tiny grains from wild plants for food. Toasting gives them a nut-like taste and a crisp texture. Boiling them makes a thick porridge. Avoid grain from soil polluted by chemicals or other waste. The grain has no major reported toxicity concerns. However, large amounts of the grass can poison horses. Its value as animal feed is low. Traditional uses include remedies for kidney stones and flu symptoms. These records describe folk use, not proof that treatment works.