Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf.

This species is very rarely found.

This is a widely introduced weed naturalized in most warm-temperate regions.

Also recorded from Thatta district. Very common throughout Pakistan from the plains to 4000 m. Grown as an ornamental but often becoming a weed. Of little value for fodder.

Annuals; culms erect to obliquly ascending from geniculate base, 2-3-noded; 35 cm long, 1.5 mm in diameter. Blades linear-lanceolate, 4-8 cm long, 4 mm wide; ligule tongue-shaped, 4.5 mm long, chartaceous. Panicle contracted, oblong. Spikelets 1-flowered, 2 mm long; glumes nearly equal, chartaceous, 1-nerved, as long as the spikelet, oblongawned, hispid on back, margins ciliate, awn from the sinus; Lemma chartaceous, obovate, 1 mm long, apex 4-toothed, 5-nerved, awned; palea membranous, as long as the lemma, oblong, 2-keeled, minutely 2-toothed; anther 0.5 mm long. Caryopsis elliptical, 1 mm long.

Annual, tufted. Culms erect or geniculate, up to 60 cm tall. Leaf blades narrowly to broadly linear, 2–13 cm, 2–9 mm wide, adaxial surface and margins scabrid, abaxial surface smooth, apex acute; ligule 2–8 mm. Panicle narrowly oblong in outline, dense, spikelike, sometimes slightly lobed, 1–10 cm, pale green, thickly clothed in yellow bristles. Spikelets narrowly oblong, 1.5–2.5 mm; glumes narrowly obovate-oblong, puberulous, vein scabrid-aculeate, margins ciliate, apex emarginate, apex of lobes slightly acute, awned from sinus; awn 2.5–4 times as long as glume body; lemma obovate, 1–1.2 mm, apex slightly 4-toothed, midvein extended into a fine, straight, readily deciduous, 1.5–2 mm awn; palea as long as lemma. Stamens 3, anthers ca. 0.8 mm. Caryopsis obovate-oblong, ca. 1 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Oct.

Annual; culms 6-80 cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades 5-20 cm long, 2-8 mm wide, rough; ligule 3-15 mm long. Panicle narrowly ovate to narrowly oblong, cylindrical or lobed, 1.5-16 cm long, 1-3.5 cm wide, very dense and bristly, pale green or yellowish. Spikelets 2-3 mm long; glumes slightly notched at the apex, rough with minute points especially in the lower part, minutely hairy on the margins, with a fine straight awn 4-7 mm long; lemma about half the length of the glumes, smooth, awnless or with an awn up to 2 mm long.

Europe, temperate Africa & Asia, N.W. Himalaya, Nepal, Madras, Ceylon.

Distributed in temperate and warm regions of Eurasia and northern Africa.

Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; N and S Africa, SW Asia (Caucasus), Europe].

Distribution: Pakistan (Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); northeast tropical and South Africa; Mediterranean region northwards to the British Isles and eastwards to India and China; introduced and naturalised in most warm temperate countries.

400-1200 m

Fl. & Fr. Per.: throughout much of the year, but mostly between March and July.

Moist places, streamsides; below 3000 m.

Alopecurus monspeliensis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 61. 1753.