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.
Species
- Polypogon ÃÂ adscendens <small>Guss.</small> - Italy
- Polypogon australis <small>Brongn.</small> - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández Islands
- Polypogon chilensis <small>(Kunth) Pilg.</small> - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández Islands, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Brazil
- Polypogon elongatus <small>Kunth</small> - USA (CA AZ CO TX), much of Mesoamerica + South America
- Polypogon exasperatus <small>(Trin.) Renvoize</small> - Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, southern Brazil
- Polypogon fugax <small>Nees ex Steud.</small> - China, Japan, Korea, central + southwestern Asia, Ethiopia, Somalia
- Polypogon griquensis <small>(Stapf) Gibbs Russ. & Fish</small> - Namibia, South Africa
- Polypogon hissaricus <small>(Roshev.) Bor</small> - Xinjiang, Central Asia, Pakistan, Iran, Himalayas
- Polypogon imberbis <small>(Phil.) Johow</small> - Argentina, Chile incl Juan Fernández Islands, Uruguay, southern Brazil
- Polypogon interruptus <small>Kunth</small> - British Columbia, western United States (WA to CA + TX), Mexico, south America
- Polypogon ivanovae <small>Tzvelev</small> - Xinjiang
- Polypogon linearis <small>Trin.</small> - Chile
- Polypogon maritimus <small>Willd.</small> - wetlands in Asia, Mediterranean
- Polypogon mollis <small>(Thouars) C.E.Hubb. & E.W.Groves</small> - Tristan da Cunha
- Polypogon monspeliensis <small>(L.) Desf.</small> - Africa, Eurasia; widely naturalized in North America
- Polypogon nilgiricus <small>Kabeer & V.J.Nair</small> - India
- Polypogon parvulus <small>Roseng., B.R.Arrill. & Izag.</small> - Uruguay, Argentina
- Polypogon pygmeus <small>Tzvelev</small> - Afghanistan
- Polypogon schimperianus <small>(Hochst. ex Steud.) Cope</small> - from Ethiopia + Saudi Arabia to Zimbabwe
- Polypogon tenellus <small>R.Br.</small> - South Australia, Western Australia
- Polypogon tenuis <small>Brongn.</small> - Ascension Island, St. Helena, Namibia, Cape Province
- Polypogon viridis <small>(Gouan) Breistr.</small> - 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.
Phytoremediation
Polypogon monspeliensis was investigated for its mercury-accumulating properties as a phytoremediation plant. A U.S. NISâÂÂNational Institutes of Health-funded study showed the plant to take up 110 times more mercury (HgS) than control plant species. This mercury hyperaccumulator sequesters the toxin in its roots in an insoluble form, reducing exposure to ecological receptors in situ and in erosion sediments.
References
External links