Polypogon

For the genus of moth, see Polypogon (moth).

Polypogon
Polypogon interruptus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Poodae
Tribe: Poeae
Subtribe: Agrostidinae
Genus: Polypogon
Desf.
Type species
Polypogon monspeliensis
Synonyms[1]
  • Chaetotropis Kunth
  • Nowodworskya J. Presl
  • Polypogon sect. Nowodworskya (J. Presl) Tzvelev
  • Santia Savi
Polypogon sp.

Polypogon is a nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known beard grass or rabbitsfoot grass.[2][3][4]

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.[5] Some of those are considered invasive species and noxious weeds, most notably Polypogon monspeliensis, the annual beard grass.

Species[1][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Formerly included[1]

Numerous species now regarded as better suited to other genera: Agrostis, Alopecurus, Brachypodium, Chaetium, Gymnopogon, Muhlenbergia, Pentameris, Reynaudia, and Triniochloa.

Phytoremediation

Polypogon monspeliensis[13] was investigated for its mercury-accumulating properties as a phytoremediation plant. A U.S. NIS—National 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.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ^ Desfontaines, René Louiche. 1800. Flora Atlantica 1: 66-67 in Latin
  3. ^ Tropicos, Polypogon Desf.
  4. ^ Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 361 棒头草属 bang tou cao shu Polypogon Desfontaines, Fl. Atlant. 1: 66. 1798.
  5. ^ USDA . accessed 04.12.2012
  6. ^ The Plant List search for Polypogon
  7. ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Polypogon Archived 2015-03-23 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Finot Saldías, V. L., L. Contreras, W. Ulloa, A. E. Marticorena, C. M. Baeza & E. Ruiz. 2013. El género Polypogon (Poaceae: Agrostidinae) en Chile. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 7(1): 169–194
  9. ^ Cabi, E. & M. Doğan. 2012. Poaceae. 690–756. In A. Güner, S. Aslan, T. Ekim, M. Vural & M. T. Babaç (eds.) Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi. Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını, Istanbul
  10. ^ Idárraga-Piedrahita, A., R. D. C. Ortiz, R. Callejas Posada & M. Merello. (eds.) 2011. Flora de Antioquia: Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares 2: 9–939. Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín
  11. ^ Atlas of Living Australia, Polypogon Desf. Beard Grasses
  12. ^ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps
  13. ^ Plodinec, J. (2003). Instrumentation Development, Measurement and Performance Evaluation of Environmental Technologies. Quarterly Technical Progress Report No. 40395R20. Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory. Mississippi State University. Starkville, MS.
  14. ^ Expert Panel Report; Boeing SSFL site; pg. 20 . accessed 04.12.2012
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