Water-bent (Polypogon viridis, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 110(Sess. Extraord.): lxxxix (1966))

Family: Poaceae

Author: (Gouan) Breistr.

Bibliography: Bull. Soc. Bot. France 110(Sess. Extraord.): lxxxix (1966)

Year: 1966

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Polypogon

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia to NW. India and Somalia, SC. & S. Europe to China (Yunnan)

Description

The plant commonly known as Water-bent, scientifically named Polypogon viridis, belongs to the Poaceae family. Originally classified by Gouan and later attributed to Breistr., this species has been well-documented in prestigious botanical literature, notably in the Bulletin of the Society of Botany in France.

Polypogon viridis boasts a diverse and widespread distribution, extending from the Macaronesia region through northwestern India and Somalia, and reaching further into southern and central Europe all the way to China, particularly the Yunnan province. This broad range underscores the plant’s adaptability to different ecological environments.

As a member of the Poaceae family, Water-bent shares many characteristics common to grasses, featuring slender, elongated leaves and a particular affinity for moist environments. It is often found in places where water is plentiful, further explaining its common name. Due to its adaptability and widespread nature, Polypogon viridis plays a significant role in its ecosystems, contributing to soil stabilization and providing habitat for various wildlife species.

Researchers and botanists have consistently observed this plant across various continents, indicating its resilience and ecological significance. Whether growing in the lush terrains of Macaronesia or the rugged landscapes of Yunnan, Polypogon viridis continues to thrive, making it a subject of interest for ongoing botanical studies.

Common Names

Eng: beardless rabbitsfoot grass, water bent, water-bent, water-bent grass, water beardgrass
Deu: grünes bürstengras
Nld: kransgras
Nob: kveinbartegras
Nno: kveinbartegras
Fra: polypogon vert
Swe: tofsven
Cym: barfwellt diffaith, barfwellt y dŵr
Ita: coda di lepre verticillata
En: Water-bent, Water-bent grass, Beardless rabbitsfoot grass, Water Bent, Water beardgrass, Beardless Rabbitsfoot-grass
Ar: ديل الفار ، ذيل الفار, قمح (قَمْح الفار)، زريحه (زريْجه), نعيم (نَعيم، نِعيم), نعيم (نُعيم)، نعيمه (نُعيمه)
Ca: Polípogon semiverticil·lat
Nl: Kransgras
Fr: Polypogon vert, Polypogon vrai
De: Grünes Bürstengras
He: עבדקן הדורים
It: Coda di Lepre Verticillata
Nb: Kveinbartegras
Nn: Kveinbartegras
Es: Pasto
Sv: Tofsven
Cy: Barfwellt Diffaith, Barfwellt y Dŵr

Synonyms

• Agrostis muelleri (C.Presl)
• Agrostis verticillata var. gracilis (Velen.)
• Vilfa verticillata ((Vill.) P.Beauv.)
• Agrostis decumbens (Elliott)
• Agrostis verticillata var. dalmatica ((Trin.) Hayek)
• Agrostis semiverticillata ((Forssk.) C.Chr.)
• Milium vulgare var. verticillatum ((Vill.) Mérat)
• Polypogon × littoralis var. muticus (Hook.f.)
• Agrostis aquatica (Pourr.)
• Milium vulgare var. verticillata ((Vill.) Mérat)
• Agrostis densa (M.Bieb.)
• Agrostis condensata (Willd. ex Steud.)
• Agrestis verticillata ((Vill.) Bubani)
• Agrostis verticillata (Vill.)
• Polypogon viridis subsp. pauciflorus (H.Scholz & R.Otto)
• Polypogon semiverticillatus ((Forssk.) Hyl.)
• Agrostis viridis (Gouan)
• Phalaris semiverticillata (Forssk.)
• Vilfa villarsii (P.Beauv.)
• Agrostis alba var. verticillata ((Vill.) Pers.)
• Agrostis verticillata var. coarctata (Griseb.)
• Agrostis vulgaris var. verticillata ((Vill.) Le Turq.)
• Agrostis alba subsp. verticillata ((Vill.) Ball)
• Agrostis kauaiensis (Hildebr.)
• Agrostis alba var. rivularis ((Brot.) Mutel)
• Agrostis dalmatica (Trin.)
• Agrostis anatolica (K.Koch)
• Agrostis rivularis (Brot.)
• Agrostis villarsii (Poir.)
• Agrostis refracta (Moench)
• Agrostis verticillata var. frondosa ((Ten.) Halácsy)
• Agrostis verticillata var. acutiglumis (Costa)
• Vilfa densa ((M.Bieb.) P.Beauv.)
• Agrostis leptos (Steud.)
• Agrostis koelerioides (Romo)
• Nowodworskya verticillata ((Vill.) Nevski)
• Nowodworskya semiverticillata ((Forssk.) Nevski)
• Agrostis stolonifera var. verticillata ((Vill.) DC.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Oman (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Sinai (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• Western Sahara (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Angola (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arizona (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South Carolina (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Venezuelan Antilles (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Wyoming (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken May 22, 2021 by Echeverri jhonatan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2022 by OutSa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2022 by carlos (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 19, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2013 by EOL − Al Keuter (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken May 4, 2010 by EOL − Luigi Rignanese (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 19, 2016 by EOL − Colin Meurk (cc-by)

Taken Dec 11, 2015 by EOL − Colin Meurk (cc-by)

© 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.

Fruit

Taken Aug 5, 2022 by plantain07 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Johan Devos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 9, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2007 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Other

Taken May 26, 2021 by Adán Gonçalves (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

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

Taken Nov 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Feb 13, 2022 by Pedro Silva (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2022 by Jolise M. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2013 by EOL − Al Keuter (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 30, 2020 by Mathew Rees (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2022 by OutSa (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 4, 2018 by Kadda Chouhim (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2019 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Sep 9, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 15, 2013 by EOL − Al Keuter (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Nov 17, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:418741-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5289919)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Polypogon viridis (Gouan) Breistr.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 8

Soil nutriments: 5