Eragrostis pilosa aka Hairy Love Grass

Eragrostis pilosa is an annual grass in the Poaceae family. Its common names include soft love grass and Jersey love grass. Kew places its native range from southeastern Siberia to northern China, including the Russian Far East. It also grows well beyond that range. Records cover parts of Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland.

This grass forms loose clumps and reaches about 2 feet [0.6 metres]. Some stems reach 2.3 feet [0.7 metres], according to Useful Tropical Plants. The stems stand upright or rise from a slanting base. They may branch or remain unbranched. The plant completes its life cycle in one year. PFAF gives its flowering season as August to September. Each flower has both male and female parts. Wind carries the pollen. The plant produces very small seeds, which people gather for food.

In gardens, it needs sun and does not grow in shade. It grows in good loam or soil rich in humus. It favors light soil, though sandy and loamy soils both suit it. PFAF recommends moist soil with good drainage. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. PFAF lists USDA zones 6–9 and its own UK zone 7. Wild plants grow beside roads, in old fields, and on disturbed ground. Other sites include riverbanks, floodplain grassland, and woodland with clay soils.

Growers can raise it from seed under glass in early spring. Cover the seed with only a thin layer of soil. PFAF reports that seeds should sprout within two weeks. Move young plants outdoors once the risk of frost has passed. Direct sowing is also possible in mid- to late spring. A cool summer may limit the amount of ripe seed. PFAF lists cultivated beds as a garden setting. Its weedy nature matters when choosing a place for it. Useful Tropical Plants calls it a frequent weed of farmed land.

People grind the seeds into flour for cereal food. They serve as famine food, but some communities eat them more often. East African harvests include regular collection for food. Their small size makes them hard to handle. PFAF records a traditional use for bruises, not proof of a cure. Both PFAF and Useful Tropical Plants report no known hazards. That does not establish safety for every person or pet.