Eragrostis multicaulis Steud. (1854: 426)

Verloove, Filip, Gonçalves Silva, Juan J. & Leliaert, Frederik, 2024, Critical notes on grasses (Poaceae) of Madeira, Portugal, Phytotaxa 670 (1), pp. 1-17 : 3-4

Eragrostis multicaulis Steud. (1854: 426)

[syn.: E. pilosa (L.) P. Beauv. subsp. damiensiana (Bonnier) Thell. ]

Specimens examined: PORTUGAL. Machico, near beach, cracks between tiles, 11 September 2021, F. Verloove 14138 ( BR) ; Câmara de Lobos , Ribeira dos Socorridos, gravelly riverbed, few plants, 12 September 2021, F. Verloove 14146 ( BR) ; Funchal, Rua Dr. Pita, roadside, in the city, several dozens, 18 September 2021, F. Verloove 14134 ( BR) ; Calheta, Praia do Calhau , Av. Manuel I, roadside, rather frequent, 28 April 2022, F. Verloove 14327 ( BR) .

Eragrostis multicaulis is a member of the E. pilosa complex and is sometimes reduced to the synonymy of E. pilosa (L.) Beauv. ( Ryves et al. 1996) or treated at subspecific or varietal level under the latter species (for extended synonymy, see Conert 1998). In our opinion, both are usually readily distinguished and merit specific recognition (see also Portal 2002, etc.). It naturally occurs in Asia but, as a weed, has much extended its distribution range in the past decades; it is now naturalized in much of Europe, parts of North and South America and perhaps also here and there in Africa.

Plants observed in the island of Madeira show some morphological variation: the junction of the leaf blade and leaf sheath may be glabrous or hairy (even within a single individual; F. Verloove 14134) and pulvini are usually glabrous but sometimes pilose (F. Verloove 14146). Overall, however, Madeira specimens are much closer to E. multicaulis than to E. pilosa s.str., especially on behalf of the typical inflorescence characters: panicle wide and pyramidal (with longest panicle branches in the lower ¼ of the panicle; vs. panicle narrower, long remaining contracted) and lower panicle branches solitary or paired (vs. whorled).

From Macaronesia, E. multicaulis was previously reported only from the Azores ( Menezes de Sequeira et al. 2012). E. pilosa (s.str.?) was cited from Cape Verde by Arechavaleta et al. (2005). It seems to be a recent introduction in the island of Madeira that may be more widespread in urban areas, especially in the area of Funchal where it is clearly naturalized.