''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly

cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Internationalism * World citizen, one who eschews traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship * Cosmopolitanism, the idea that all of humanity belongs to a single moral community * Cosmopolitan ...

genus of plants in the

grass family Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in ...

, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a

GMO A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The exact definition of a genetically modified organism and what constitutes genetic engineering varies, with ...

creeping bent grass.

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepted the following species: *'' Agrostis ambatoensis'' Asteg. * ''Agrostis'' × ''amurensis'' Prob. *'' Agrostis anadyrensis'' Soczava *'' Agrostis angrenica'' (Butkov) Tzvelev * ''Agrostis'' × ''aquitanica'' Romero Zarco & Romero García *'' Agrostis arvensis'' Phil. *'' Agrostis atlantica'' Maire & Trab. *'' Agrostis australiensis'' Mez * ''Agrostis'' × ''avatschensis'' Prob. *'' Agrostis balansae'' (Boiss.) Tzvelev *''

Agrostis barikii ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' P.Agnihotri & D.Prasad *''

Agrostis basalis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online ...

'' Luces *'' Agrostis bergiana'' Trin. *''

Agrostis bettyae ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' S.W.L.Jacobs * ''Agrostis'' × ''bjoerkmannii'' Widén *''

Agrostis blasdalei ''Agrostis blasdalei'' is a species of grass known by the common name Blasdale's bent grass. It is endemic to the coast of northern California, where it grows in habitat along the immediate coastline, such as dunes and bluffs. Description It is ...

'' Hitchc. *''

Agrostis boormanii ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Vickery *''

Agrostis bourgaei ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' E.Fourn. *''

Agrostis boyacensis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Swallen & García-Barr. *''

Agrostis brachiata ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Munro ex Hook.f. *''

Agrostis brachyathera ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Steud. *''

Agrostis breviculmis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Hitchc. *''

Agrostis burmanica ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Bor *''

Agrostis calderoniae ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' Acosta *'' Agrostis canina'' L. *''

Agrostis capillaris ''Agrostis capillaris'', the common bent, colonial bent, or browntop, is a rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial in the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Eurasia and has been widely introduced in many parts of the world. Colonial be ...

'' L. (common bent, browntop) *''

Agrostis carmichaelii ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan genus of plants in the Poaceae, grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a Genetically modified organis ...

'' Schult. & Schult.f. *'' Agrostis castellana'' Boiss. & Reut. (highland bent) * ''Agrostis'' × ''castriferrei'' Waisb. *'' Agrostis clavata'' Trin. (northern bent) * ''Agrostis'' × ''clavatiformis'' Prob. *'' Agrostis clemensiorum'' Bor *'' Agrostis comorensis'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis congestiflora'' Tutin & E.F.Warb. *'' Agrostis continuata'' Stapf *'' Agrostis cypricola'' H.Lindb. *'' Agrostis czernjaginae'' Prob. *'' Agrostis decaryana'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis delislei'' Hemsl. *'' Agrostis densiflora'' Vasey (California bent) *'' Agrostis diemenica'' D.I.Morris *'' Agrostis divaricatissima'' Mez *'' Agrostis dshungarica'' (Tzvelev) Tzvelev *''

Agrostis dyeri ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Petrie *'' Agrostis elliotii'' Hack. *'' Agrostis elliottiana'' Schult. *'' Agrostis emirnensis'' (Baker) Bosser *'' Agrostis exarata'' Trin. (spike bent) *'' Agrostis filipes'' Hook.f. *'' Agrostis flaccida'' Hack. *'' Agrostis foliata'' Hook.f. * ''Agrostis'' × ''fouilladei'' P.Fourn. *''

Agrostis gariana ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Taheri *'' Agrostis ghiesbreghtii'' E.Fourn. *''

Agrostis gigantea ''Agrostis gigantea'', known by its common names black bent and redtop, is a perennial grass of the ''Agrostis'' genus. It is native to Europe, but in the cooler areas of North America was widely used as a pasture grass until the 1940s. Although ...

'' Roth (black bent, redtop) * ''Agrostis'' × ''gigantifera'' Portal *''

Agrostis glabra ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online ...

'' (J.Presl) Kunth *'' Agrostis goughensis'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis gracilifolia'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis gracililaxa'' Franco *'' Agrostis griffithiana'' (Hook.f.) Bor *'' Agrostis hallii'' Vasey * ''Agrostis'' × ''hegetschweileri'' Brügger *'' Agrostis hendersonii'' Hitchc. *''

Agrostis hesperica ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Romero García, Blanca, G.López & C.Morales *'' Agrostis hideoi'' Ohwi *'' Agrostis hirta'' Veldkamp *'' Agrostis holgateana'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis hookeriana'' C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f. *''

Agrostis hooveri ''Agrostis hooveri'' is a species of grass known by the common name Hoover's bent grass. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from western San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Description It grows in woodland and chaparral ...

'' Swallen *'' Agrostis howellii'' Scribn. ex Vasey *'' Agrostis hugoniana'' Rendle *'' Agrostis humbertii'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis hyemalis'' (Walter) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. (winter bent) *'' Agrostis hygrometrica'' Nees *'' Agrostis idahoensis'' Nash *'' Agrostis imbecilla'' Zotov *''

Agrostis imberbis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Phil. *'' Agrostis inaequiglumis'' Griseb. *'' Agrostis inconspicua'' Kunze *'' Agrostis infirma'' Buse *'' Agrostis innominata'' Enustsch. *'' Agrostis insularis'' Rúgolo & A.M.Molina *'' Agrostis isopholis'' C.E.Hubb. *''

Agrostis jahnii ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Luces *''

Agrostis joyceae ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' S.W.L.Jacobs *''

Agrostis juressi ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Link *'' Agrostis keniensis'' Pilg. *'' Agrostis kilimandscharica'' Mez *''

Agrostis koelerioides ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' É.Desv. *'' Agrostis kolymensis'' Kuvaev & A.P.Khokhr. *'' Agrostis korczaginii'' Senjan.-Korcz. *'' Agrostis kurczenkoae'' Prob. *'' Agrostis lacuna-vernalis'' P.M.Peterson & Soreng *'' Agrostis laegaardii'' A.M.Molina & Rúgolo * ''Agrostis'' × ''lapenkoi'' Prob. *'' Agrostis laxissima'' Swallen *'' Agrostis lazica'' Balansa *'' Agrostis lehmannii'' Swallen *'' Agrostis lenis'' Roseng. *'' Agrostis leptotricha'' É.Desv. *'' Agrostis longiberbis'' Hack. ex Lor.B.Sm. *'' Agrostis mackliniae'' Bor *'' Agrostis mannii'' (Hook.f.) Stapf *''

Agrostis marojejyensis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis masafuerana'' Pilg. *'' Agrostis media'' Carmich. *'' Agrostis mertensii'' Trin. (Arctic bent) *'' Agrostis merxmuelleri'' Greuter & H.Scholz *'' Agrostis meyenii'' Trin. *'' Agrostis micrantha'' Steud. *'' Agrostis microphylla'' Steud. *'' Agrostis montevidensis'' Spreng. ex Nees *'' Agrostis muelleriana'' Vickery *'' Agrostis munroana'' Aitch. & Hemsl. * ''Agrostis'' × ''murbeckii'' Fouill. *'' Agrostis muscosa'' Kirk *'' Agrostis musjidii'' Rajesw., R.R.Rao & Arti Garg *'' Agrostis nebulosa'' Boiss. & Reut. *''

Agrostis nervosa ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Nees ex Trin. *'' Agrostis neshatajevae'' Prob. *'' Agrostis nevadensis'' Boiss. *'' Agrostis nevskii'' Tzvelev * ''Agrostis'' × ''novograblenovii'' Prob. *'' Agrostis olympica'' (Boiss.) Bor *'' Agrostis oregonensis'' Vasey *''

Agrostis oresbia ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Edgar *'' Agrostis osakae'' Honda *''

Agrostis pallens ''Agrostis pallens'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name seashore bentgrass. Distribution It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Montana to California, where it grows in many types of habitat, typicall ...

'' Trin. (dune bent, seashore bent) *'' Agrostis pallescens'' Cheeseman * ''Agrostis'' × ''paramushirensis'' Prob. *'' Agrostis parviflora'' R.Br. *'' Agrostis paulsenii'' Hack. *'' Agrostis pendryi'' Paszko *'' Agrostis peninsularis'' Hook.f. *'' Agrostis perennans'' (Walter) Tuck. (upland bent) *'' Agrostis personata'' Edgar *'' Agrostis peschkovae'' Enustsch. *'' Agrostis petriei'' Hack. *'' Agrostis philippiana'' Rúgolo & De Paula *'' Agrostis phillipsiae'' R.Kr.Singh, Arigela & Ch.S.Reddy *'' Agrostis pilgeriana'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis pilosula'' Trin. *'' Agrostis pittieri'' Hack. *'' Agrostis platensis'' Parodi *'' Agrostis pleiophylla'' Mez *'' Agrostis pourretii'' Willd. *'' Agrostis producta'' Pilg. *'' Agrostis propinqua'' S.W.L.Jacobs *'' Agrostis quinqueseta'' (Steud.) Hochst. *'' Agrostis reuteri'' Boiss. *''

Agrostis rossiae ''Agrostis rossiae'', or Ross' bentgrass, is a species of perennial or annual grass that is endemic to the Firehole River drainage and Shoshone Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is a List of national park ...

'' Vasey *''

Agrostis rupestris ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' All. *'' Agrostis salaziensis'' C.Cordem. *'' Agrostis salsa'' Korsh. *'' Agrostis sandwicensis'' Hillebr. * ''Agrostis'' × ''sanionis'' Asch. & Graebn. *''

Agrostis scabra ''Agrostis scabra'' is a common species of Poaceae, grass known by the common names hair grass, rough bent, rough bent grass, winter bent grass, and ticklegrass. page 210 A tumbleweed, it is a bunchgrass native to Asia and much of North America, ...

'' Willd. (rough bent, tickle bent) *'' Agrostis scabrifolia'' Swallen *'' Agrostis schischkinii'' Paszko *'' Agrostis schmidii'' (Hook.f.) C.E.C.Fisch. *''

Agrostis schraderiana ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Bech. *'' Agrostis sclerophylla'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis serranoi'' Phil. *''

Agrostis sichotensis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' Prob. *'' Agrostis sikkimensis'' Bor *'' Agrostis sinocontracta'' S.M.Phillips & S.L.Lu *'' Agrostis sinorupestris'' L.Liu ex S.M.Phillips & S.L.Lu * ''Agrostis'' × ''stebleri'' (Asch. & Graebn.) Portal *''

Agrostis stolonifera ''Agrostis stolonifera'' (creeping bentgrass, creeping bent, fiorin, spreading bent or carpet bentgrass) is a perennial grass species in the family Poaceae. It is widely used as turf for golf courses. Description ''Agrostis stolonifera'' is st ...

'' L. (creeping bent) * ''Agrostis'' × ''subclavata'' Prob. *'' Agrostis subpatens'' Hitchc. *'' Agrostis subrepens'' (Hitchc.) Hitchc. *''

Agrostis subspicata ''Agrostis subspicata'', synonym ''Chaetopogon fasciculatus'', is a species of European and North African plants in the grass family.Janchen, Erwin Emil Alfred 1913. Europaischen Gattungen der Farn-und Blutenpflanzen (ed. 2) 33 It is native Nat ...

'' (Willd.) Raspail *'' Agrostis subulata'' Hook.f. *'' Agrostis subulifolia'' Stapf *'' Agrostis swalalahos'' Otting *'' Agrostis tandilensis'' (Kuntze) Parodi (Kennedy's bent) *'' Agrostis tateyamensis'' Tateoka *'' Agrostis taylorii'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis tenerrima'' Trin. *''

Agrostis thompsoniae ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' S.W.L.Jacobs *'' Agrostis tibestica'' Miré & Quézel *''

Agrostis tileni ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Online a ...

'' G.Nieto Fel. & Castrov. *'' Agrostis tolucensis'' Kunth * ''Agrostis'' × ''torgesii'' Portal *'' Agrostis trachychlaena'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis trachyphylla'' Pilg. *'' Agrostis trisetoides'' Steud. *'' Agrostis truncata'' Charit. *'' Agrostis tsaratananensis'' A.Camus *''

Agrostis tsiafajavonensis ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan genus of plants in the Poaceae, grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a Genetically modified organis ...

'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis tsitondroinensis'' A.Camus *'' Agrostis turrialbae'' Mez *'' Agrostis tuvinica'' Peschkova *'' Agrostis uliginosa'' Phil. *'' Agrostis umbellata'' Colla *'' Agrostis ushae'' Noltie * ''Agrostis'' × ''ussuriensis'' Prob. *'' Agrostis valvata'' Steud. *'' Agrostis variabilis'' Rydb. (mountain bent) *'' Agrostis venezuelana'' Mez *'' Agrostis venusta'' Trin. *'' Agrostis vidalii'' Phil. *'' Agrostis vinealis'' Schreb. (brown bent) *'' Agrostis volkensii'' Stapf *''

Agrostis wacei ''Agrostis'' (bent or bentgrass) is a large and very nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family, found in nearly all the countries in the world. It has been bred as a GMO creeping bent grass. Species , Plants of the World Onlin ...

'' C.E.Hubb. *'' Agrostis zenkeri'' Trin.

Formerly placed here

Hundreds of species formerly listed in the genus ''Agrostis'' have been moved to other genera, including ''

Achnatherum ''Achnatherum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family, Poaceae. It includes 20 species of needlegrass native to temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Several needlegrass species have been switched between ''Achnatherum'' and genus ''St ...

'', ''

Agrostula ''Agrostula'' is a genus of grasses. It includes a single species, ''Agrostula truncatula'', which is native to the Pyrenees of France and Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. It includes two subspecies: *''Agrostula truncatula'' subsp. ''durieui'' � ...

'', ''

Aira ''Aira'' is a genus of Old World plants in the grass family, native to western and southern Europe, central and southwest Asia, plus Africa. The common name, shared with the similar related genera '' Deschampsia'' and ''Koeleria'', is hair-gras ...

'', '' Alloteropsis'', ''

Alpagrostis ''Alpagrostis'' is a genus of grass Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family (biology), family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, t ...

'', ''

Apera ''Apera'' is a small genus of annual grasses, known commonly as silkybent grass or windgrass. They are native to Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia but have been introduced and naturalized in much of North and South America. ; Species * '' ...

'', ''

Arundinella ''Arundinella'' is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family, common in many tropical and subtropical regions.Phipps, J. B. 1967. Studies in the Arundinelleae (Gramineae). V. The series of the genus ''Arundinella''. Canadian Journal of Bot ...

'', ''

Calamagrostis ''Calamagrostis'' (reed grass or smallweed) is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae, with about 260 species that occur mainly in temperate regions of the globe. Towards equatorial latitudes, species of ''Calamagrostis'' general ...

'', ''

Chionochloa ''Chionochloa'' is a genus of tussock grass in the family Poaceae, found primarily in New Zealand with one known species in New Guinea and another on Lord Howe Island (part of Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Austr ...

'', ''

Chloris In Greek mythology, the name Chloris (; Greek Χλωρίς ''Chlōrís'', from χλωρός ''chlōrós'', meaning "greenish-yellow", "pale green", "pale", "pallid", or "fresh") appears in a variety of contexts. Some clearly refer to different ch ...

'', '' Cinna'', ''

Colpodium ''Colpodium'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native primarily to Asia but with a few species on certain mountains in Africa. ; SpeciesMill, R. R. 1985. ''Eremopoa, Nephelochloa, Catabrosella, Colpodium, Hyalopoa, Catabrosa, Paracolpo ...

'', ''

Crypsis In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an animal or a plant to avoid observation or detection by other animals. It may be part of a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation. Methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean life ...

'', ''

Cynodon ''Cynodon'', from Ancient Greek κύων (''kúōn''), meaning "dog", and ὀδούς (''odoús''), meaning "tooth", is a genus of plants in the grass family. It is native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World, as well as bei ...

'', ''

Deschampsia ''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family Poaceae, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries.Dichelachne ''Dichelachne'' is a genus of Australian, Indonesian, and Pacific Island plants in the grass family. They are known commonly as plumegrasses.Digitaria ''Digitaria'' is a genus of plants in the grass family native to tropical and warm temperate regions but can occur in tropical, subtropical, and cooler temperate regions as well. Common names include crabgrass, finger-grass, and fonio. They ar ...

'', '' Eremochloa'', '' Eriochloa'', '' Eustachys'', '' Gastridium'', ''

Graphephorum ''Graphephorum'' is a genus of North American plants in the Poaceae, grass family. Species Seven species are currently accepted. *''Graphephorum ambiguum'' – southern Chile and southern Argentina *''Graphephorum canescens'' – western Can ...

'', ''

Gymnopogon ''Gymnopogon'' (skeletongrass) is a genus of Americas, American and Southeast Asian plants in the Poaceae, grass family. ; Species * ''Gymnopogon ambiguus'' (Michx.) Britton, Stern & Poggenb. - southeastern + south-central United States (New Mex ...

'', '' Lachnagrostis'', ''

Leptochloa ''Leptochloa'' is a widespread genus of Asian, Australian, and American plants in the grass family. Members of the genus are commonly known as sprangletops. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ''leptos'', meaning "thin," and ''chloa ...

'', ''

Muhlenbergia ''Muhlenbergia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. The genus is named in honor of the German-American amateur botanist Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815). Many of the species are known by the common name muhly. The greatest ...

'', ''

Pentameris ''Pentameris'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, native primarily to Africa, with a few species in Yemen and on certain islands in the Indian Ocean. A significant number of species are endemic to South Africa.Linder, Hans Peter, et al. 2 ...

'', '' Phippsia'', '' Piptatherum'', ''

Poa ''Poa'' is a genus of about 570 species of Poaceae, grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass (mainly in Europe and Asia), bluegrass (mainly in North America), tussock (some New Zealand spe ...

'', ''

Polypogon ''Polypogon'' is a nearly Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan genus of plants in the Poaceae, grass family, commonly known beard grass or rabbitsfoot grass. Description ''Polypogon'' species vary in appearance; some are erect, while other ...

'', ''

Puccinellia ''Puccinellia'' is a genus of plants in the Poaceae, grass family, known as alkali grass or salt grass. These grasses grow in wet environments, often in Saline water, saline or alkaline conditions. They are native to temperate to Arctic regions ...

'', '' Reimarochloa'', '' Relchela'', ''

Schismus ''Schismus'' is a genus of African and Eurasian plants in the Poaceae, grass family. Two species are naturalized in North America, where they are known as Mediterranean grass. ; Species * ''Schismus arabicus'' - Greece, North Africa, East Africa ...

'', ''

Sporobolus ''Sporobolus'' is a nearly cosmopolitan genus of plants in the grass family. The name ''Sporobolus'' means "seed-thrower", and is derived from Ancient Greek word (), meaning "seed", and the root of () "to throw", referring to the dispersion of ...

'' and '' Zingeria''. Former species include: * '' Agrostis curtisii'' (bristle bent) → ''

Alpagrostis setacea ''Agrostis curtisii'', the bristle bent, is a species of grass in the family Poaceae native to Eurasia. It is densely tufted, with hair like leaves and stems that grow up to 60 cm. Its spikelets are yellow-green in colour, and its lemmas ...

'' * '' Agrostis humilis'' → '' Podagrostis humilis'' * '' Agrostis magellanica'' → '' Polypogon magellanicus'' * '' Agrostis thurberiana'' → '' Podagrostis thurberiana'' * ''Agrostis truncatula'' → '' Agrostula truncatula''

Uses

Some species of bents are commonly used for

lawn A lawn () is an area of soil-covered land planted with Poaceae, grasses and other durable plants such as clover lawn, clover which are maintained at a short height with a lawn mower (or sometimes grazing animals) and used for aesthetic an ...

grass. This is a desirable grass for golf course teeing areas, fairways, and greens. Bentgrass is used in turf applications for its numerous advantages: it can be mowed to a very short length without damage, it can handle a great amount of foot traffic, it has a shallow root system that is thick and dense allowing it to be seeded and grow rather easily, and it has a pleasing, deep green appearance. The name "bent" refers to the shallow roots, which bend just below the surface of the soil to propagate laterally.

Creeping bent

'' is the most commonly used species of ''Agrostis''. Historically, it was often called

Orcheston Orcheston ) is a Civil parishes in England, civil parish and village in Wiltshire, England, lying on Salisbury Plain less than a mile north-west of neighbouring Shrewton. The present-day parish combines the two former parishes of Orcheston St Ma ...

long grass, after a village on

Salisbury Plain Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in southern England covering . It is part of a system of chalk downlands throughout eastern and southern England formed by the rocks of the Chalk Group and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, but st ...

, England. It is cultivated almost exclusively on golf courses, especially on putting greens. Creeping bent aggressively produces horizontal stems, called

stolons In biology, a stolon ( from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as a runner, is a horizontal connection between parts of an organism. It may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton. Typically, animal stolons ar ...

, that run along the soil's surface. These allow creeping bent to form dense stands especially when mown at low mowing heights and outcompete bunch-type grass and broadleaf weeds. As such, if infested in a home lawn and mown at higher mowing heights, it can become a troublesome weed problem. The leaves of the bentgrass are long and slender. It can quickly take over a home lawn if it is not controlled and has very shallow roots. The

Scotts Miracle-Gro Company The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, where O.M. Scott began selling lawn seed in 1868. The company manufactures and sells consumer lawn, garden and pest control products, as ...

and

Monsanto The Monsanto Company () was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best-known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, developed ...

genetically engineered creeping bent to be

glyphosate Glyphosate (IUPAC name: ''N''-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by EPSP inhibitor, inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-en ...

-tolerant under Monsanto's

Roundup Ready Roundup Ready is the Bayer (formerly Monsanto) trademark for its patented line of genetically modified crop seeds that are resistant to its glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup (herbicide), Roundup. History In 1996, genetically modified ''Roundup ...

trademark, as "one of the first wind-pollinated, perennial, and highly outcrossing transgenic crops". In 2003, Scotts planted it as part of a large (about 160 ha) field trial in central Oregon near

Madras Chennai, also known as Madras ( its official name until 1996), is the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. It is located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. According to the 2011 Indian ce ...

. In 2004, its pollen was found to have reached wild growing bentgrass populations up to 14 kilometres away. Cross-pollinating ''

'' was even found at a distance of 21 kilometres. Scotts could not remove all genetically engineered plants and in 2007, the

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) based in Riverdale Park, Maryland, Riverdale, Maryland responsible for protecting animal health, animal welfare, and plant h ...

fined them $500,000 for non-compliance with Plant Protection Act regulations.

Common bent

'', or colonial bent, was brought to America from Europe. This was the type of grass that was used on the lawns of most estates. It is the tallest of the bents with very fine texture and like most bent grasses grows very densely. Although this species has been used on golf courses and sporting fields it is better suited for lawns. Colonial bent is fairly easy to grow from seeds and fertilization of the lawn is not as intense. This grass also takes longer to establish than creeping bent. However it does not require the intense maintenance.

Velvet bent

'' Agrostis canina'' gets its name for the velvet appearance that this grass produces. It has the finest texture of all the bent grasses. This grass was used in Europe for estate lawns and golf courses because it could be cut so short. Velvet bent grass requires similar upkeep and maintenance to creeping bent. Velvet bent has recently had a resurgence in the UK due to the high demands on greens from inclement weather and speed expectations. This species also has a lighter color than the two previous species.

Butterfly food plant

Butterflies whose caterpillars feed on ''Agrostis'' include: *

Zabulon skipper The Zabulon skipper (''Lon zabulon'') (sometimes called the southern dimorphic skipperJames A. Scott (1986). ''The Butterflies of North America''. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. ) is a North American butterfly first described by the ...

, ''Poanes zabulon''

References

External links

Interactive Key to ''Agrostis'' of North America
{{Authority control Lawn grasses Poaceae genera Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus

Species

Formerly placed here

Uses

Creeping bent

Common bent

Velvet bent

Butterfly food plant

See also

References

External links