African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a highly invasive grass that negatively impacts both natural areas and agricultural lands. Citizen Scientists who are familiar with African lovegrass, are encouraged to join the following project, which is part of a study into the genome of African lovegrass: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/african-lovegrass-genome-study . The study is by Dr Margaret Mackinnon Honorary Associate Professor at the ANU, and the ANU Borevitz Group lab – Plant Genomics for Climate Adaptation.
The study will contribute to the genetics, taxonomy and management of African lovegrass. Aims of the project are: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/african-lovegrass-genome-study/journal/132191-african-lovegrass-invasiveness-in-australia-is-it-reversible-by-dr-margaret-mackinnon
Members of the project are asked to record African lovegrass observations and add them to the iNaturalistAU project, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/african-lovegrass-genome-study. In addition plant material from the observation should be collected for the study team. Refer to this journal post for the plant material collection method, and the observation fields you will be asked to complete: https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/african-lovegrass-genome-study/journal/132226-collection-method