Polypogon
Polypogon is a nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known beard grass or rabbitsfoot grass.
Description
Polypogon species vary in appearance; some are erect, while others drape over the ground in waves. Many have soft, fluffy inflorescences that look like rabbit's foot amulets.Some are introduced species established outside their native ranges. Some of those are considered invasive species and noxious weeds, most notably Polypogon monspeliensis, the annual beard grass.
; SpeciesPolypogon × adscendens Guss. - ItalyPolypogon australis Brongn. - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández IslandsPolypogon chilensis Pilg. - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández Islands, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, BrazilPolypogon elongatus Kunth - USA, much of Mesoamerica + South AmericaPolypogon exasperatus Renvoize - Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, southern BrazilPolypogon fugax Nees ex Steud. - China, Japan, Korea, central + southwestern Asia, Ethiopia, SomaliaPolypogon griquensis Gibbs Russ. & Fish - Namibia, South AfricaPolypogon hissaricus Bor - Xinjiang, Central Asia, Pakistan, Iran, HimalayasPolypogon imberbis Johow - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández Islands, Uruguay, southern BrazilPolypogon interruptus Kunth - British Columbia, western United States, Mexico, south AmericaPolypogon ivanovae Tzvelev - Xinjiang Polypogon linearis Trin. - ChilePolypogon maritimus Willd. - wetlands in Asia, MediterraneanPolypogon mollis C.E.Hubb. & E.W.Groves - Tristan da CunhaPolypogon monspeliensis Desf. - Africa, Eurasia; widely naturalized in North AmericaPolypogon nilgiricus Kabeer & V.J.Nair - IndiaPolypogon parvulus Roseng., B.R.Arrill. & Izag. - Uruguay, ArgentinaPolypogon pygmeus Tzvelev - AfghanistanPolypogon schimperianus Cope - from Ethiopia + Saudi Arabia to ZimbabwePolypogon tenellus R.Br. - South Australia, Western AustraliaPolypogon tenuis Brongn. - Ascension Island, St. Helena, Namibia, Cape ProvincePolypogon viridis Breistr. - central + southwestern Asia, Mediterranean
; Formerly included
Numerous species now regarded as better suited to other genera: Agrostis, Alopecurus, Brachypodium, Chaetium, Gymnopogon, Muhlenbergia, Pentameris, Reynaudia, and Triniochloa.