Polypogon interruptus H.B.K.   =P. lutosus   Poaceae (Grass Family)   South America   Beard Grass   Ditch Polypogon

                                May Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Tufted perennial, the culms geniculate below, 3-8 dm. tall; ligule 2-5 mm. long, not nearly as wide; blades mostly 4-6 mm. wide; panicle oblong, 5-15 cm. long, +/- interrupted or lobed; glumes 2-3 mm. long, scabrous, the awns 3-5 mm. long, stiff and straight; lemma smooth, shining, 1 mm. long minutely toothed at the truncate apex, its awn ca. 2 mm. long. 

Habitat:  A weed grass in wet and waste places through much of the state; Santa Cruz, San Miguel and Santa Catalina Ids. May-Aug.

Name:  Greek, polus, many, and pogon, beard, because of the bristly infl.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 995).  Latin, interruptus, broken, parted, interrupted.  (Jaeger 297).  Refers to the interrupted panicle.  (my comment).

General:  Rare in the study area, having been found only once and this in the seep area at the northerly end of Eastbluff, near the termination of Back Bay Dr.  (my comment).      Polypogon species have been known to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller 383).      About 10 species of temp. regions.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 995).

Text Ref:  Abrams, Vol. I 147; Hickman, Ed. 1290; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 996; Robbins et al. 103; Roberts 48.

Photo Ref:  May 3 84 # 18.

Identity: by John Johnson.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 336.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 4/23/03.