annual beard grass

Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf., a member of the Poaceae family, is an annual grass found in regions such as Canada, Portugal, and the Azores. It grows to heights between 5 cm and 1 m, with a soft, fluffy inflorescence that is greenish and plumelike in appearance, occasionally lobed. The spikelets feature long, thin, whitish awns that contribute to the texture of the inflorescence. Originally from the Old World, it is now found worldwide, often as an introduced species and sometimes considered a noxious weed. First described in 1798, it is known by the common name annual beard grass in English and other languages.