Beard grass (Polypogon monspeliensis, Fl. Atlant. 1: 66 (1798))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (L.) Desf.

Bibliography: Fl. Atlant. 1: 66 (1798)

Year: 1798

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Polypogon

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, W. & S. Europe to Temp. E. Asia, N. Africa to Tanzania

Description

Beard grass, scientifically known as Polypogon monspeliensis, is a notable species within the Poaceae family. This grass was first described in depth in the botanical work “Flora Atlantica” in 1798 by the notable botanist (L.) Desf.

Polypogon monspeliensis enjoys a widespread native range across various regions, extending from Macaronesia and Western and Southern Europe to temperate zones in Eastern Asia. Its presence is also prominent from Northern Africa down to Tanzania, illustrating its adaptability to diverse climates and environments.

These grasses thrive in various habitats, displaying a versatile nature that makes them a common sight in different ecological zones. They are particularly well-adapted to areas with varying levels of moisture, often found in wetlands, alongside waterways, and in other damp locations.

Beard grass features distinctive inflorescences, characterized by their hairy or bristly structures, which contribute to their common name. These inflorescences give the plant a unique and recognizable appearance, making it an interesting subject of study for botanists and plant enthusiasts alike.

The ecological impact and adaptability of Polypogon monspeliensis are significant, as this plant can thrive in multiple regions and contribute to the local biodiversity. Understanding its role within different ecosystems provides insights into the adaptive strategies of grasses and their interactions with their environment.

Overall, Beard grass stands out as an important species within its family, with a rich history of scientific observation and a broad geographical distribution that underscores its ecological importance.

Common Names

Eng: annual rabbitsfoot grass, annual beard grass, beard grass, rabbit-foot grass, annual beard-grass, annual rabbit’s-foot grass, annual beardgrass, rabbitfoot beardgrass, rabbitfoot polypogon, rabbitsfoot grass
Dan: fransk børstegræs, skæggræs
Deu: gewöhnliches bürstengras
Lav: monpeljē akotaine
Lit: prancūzinis šepetrys
Ara: dhail al qut
Hun: közönséges kefefű
Swe: skäggräs
Ces: vousec středomořský
Nld: baardgras
Fra: polypogon de montpellier
Cym: barfwellt blynyddol, barfwellt unflwydd
Ita: coda di lepre comune
En: Beard grass, Annual beard grass, Rabbit-foot grass, Annual rabbitsfoot grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual rabbit’s-foot grass, Annual beardgrass, Rabbitfoot beardgrass, Rabbitfoot polypogon, Rabbitsfoot grass, Annual Rabbitsfoot-grass, Rabbit foot grass, Rabbit’sfootgrass, Rabbitfoot grass
Ar: Dhail al qut, ديل القط (ديل القُط)، ذيل القط (ذيل القُط), أبو ركب (أبو رُكَب)، أبو ركبه (رُكبه، رُكيبه), حلف, دنب الفار(دِنب الفار)، صر الفار (صَرّ الفار), ديل التعلب، ذيل التعلب، ديل الثعلب، ذيل الثعلب, ديل الفار ، ذيل الفار، عشب المويه (عَشب المويه), ريش ابو الحصين (رِيش أبوالحُصين)، ريش ابوالحصنى ( رِيش أبوالحُصْنى)
Ca: Pelosa
Cs: Vousec středomořský
Da: Fransk børstegræs, Skæggræs
Nl: Baardgras
Fr: Polypogon de Montpellier, Polypogon maritime
De: Gewöhnliches Bürstengras, Gemeines Bürstengras
He: עבדקן מצוי
Hu: Közönséges kefefű
It: Coda di Lepre Comune
Lv: Monpeljē akotaine
Lt: Prancūzinis šepetrys
Es: Pajilla, Cola de zorra
Sv: Skäggräs
Cy: Barfwellt Blynyddol, Barfwellt Unflwydd

Synonyms

• Agrostis triaristata (Knapp)
• Alopecurus paniceus ((L.) L.)
• Polypogon crinitus (Nutt.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. paniceus ((L.) Gray)
• Polypogon intermedius (Guss.)
• Setaria panicea ((L.) Schinz & Thell.)
• Polypogon paniceus var. monspeliensis ((L.) Dumort.)
• Agrostis crinita (Moench)
• Phalaris cristata (Forssk.)
• Agrostis alopecuroides (Lam.)
• Alopecurus monspeliensis (L.)
• Agrostis panicea var. major (Aiton)
• Cynosurus paniceus (L.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. minor (Mutel)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. maximus (Lojac.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. polysetus ((Steud.) Steud.)
• Polypogon flavescens (J.Presl)
• Polypogon alopecurus (Bubani)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. intermedius ((Guss.) Nyman)
• Alopecurus aristatus (Gouan)
• Polypogon polysetus (Steud.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis f. argentinus (Hack.)
• Phleum monspeliense ((L.) Koeler)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. interruptus (Trin.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. major (Kunth)
• Milium paniceum ((L.) Host)
• Polypogon melillensis (Sennen)
• Panicum aristatum (Cav. ex Willk. & Lange)
• Phalaris crinita (Forssk.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. giganteus (Font Quer)
• Phleum crinitum (Schreb.)
• Polypogon zeylanicus (Nees ex Steud.)
• Agrostis tenuissima (Vest ex Steud.)
• Agrostis panicea ((L.) Aiton)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. indicus (Bhattacharya & S.K.Jain)
• Santia plumosa (Savi)
• Santia monspeliensis ((L.) Parl.)
• Panicum vagum (Scop.)
• Polypogon maritimus var. paniceus ((L.) DC.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. pallens (Nees)
• Polypogon nepalensis (Nees ex Trin.)
• Alopecurus aristatus var. paniceus ((L.) Huds.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis f. nanus (Stuck.)
• Polypogon paniceus ((L.) Lag.)
• Vilfa alopecuroides (P.Beauv.)
• Polypogon monspeliensis var. capensis (Steud.)
• Alopecurus aristatus var. monspeliensis ((L.) Huds.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Chad (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Gulf States (native)
• India (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Kuwait (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Niger (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Socotra (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sri Lanka (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Sahara (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Georgia (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexican Pacific Is. (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Mississippi (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nebraska (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• North Dakota (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• South Dakota (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2019 by Nick (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 17, 2022 by sachin sharma (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2018 by César Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 17, 2015 by EOL − Daniel Palmer (cc-by-nc)

Taken Oct 10, 2015 by EOL − sierraseb (cc-by-nc)

Taken Sep 17, 2019 by galja2004 galja2004 (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2022 by Rafel Grau (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 5, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 6, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Mathieu MENAND (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Florent Beck (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2020 by claire Berthezene (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Mar 25, 2022 by Jorge Hernández López (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Claude CALAIS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Claude CALAIS (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 14, 2020 by Kendra RaiderNature (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken May 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 31, 1849 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 15, 1903 by Tela Botanica − Anne-Marie GRIMAUD (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Bark

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2015 by EOL − Jesse Rorabaugh (cc-by)

Taken May 27, 2015 by EOL − James Bailey (cc-by-nc)

Taken Dec 4, 2014 by EOL − Jon Sullivan (cc-by-nc)

Taken Dec 29, 2015 by EOL − Drepanostoma (cc-by-nc)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289917)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1048074-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.)

Specifications

Growth form: Bunch

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.8

Ph minimum: 4.8

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]

Soil nutriments: 6