Flora of New Zealand Series

Type species: P. monspeliensis (L.) Desf.

Annuals or perennials. Leaf-sheath rounded. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat. Culm nodes glabrous. Panicle dense, ± spike-like, often lobed. Spikelets falling entire at maturity with the pedicel disarticulating a short distance below the glumes, 1-flowered, somewhat laterally compressed; rachilla not prolonged. Glumes submembranous, subequal, 1-nerved, > lemma, apically awned or awnless. Lemma membranous or hyaline, 5-nerved, truncate, irregularly denticulate at apex; awn short, caducous, subapical or dorsal, or 0. Palea hyaline, 2-keeled. Callus glabrous. Lodicules 2, small. Stamens 3. Ovary glabrous; styles short, free. Caryopsis longitudinally grooved; embryo small, c. ¼ length of caryopsis; hilum punctiform or shortly elliptic; endosperm liquid or solid.

18 spp. in warm temperate regions and on mountains in the tropics. Naturalised spp. 3.

Clayton and Renvoize (1986 op. cit. p. 140) noted that Polypogon is close to Agrostis and hybridises with it, but that Polypogon is distinguished by its deciduous spikelets with stipitate bases.