Agropyron Gaertn.
The generic limits of Agropyron are controversial. As currently accepted it includes ca. 15 species, all confined to the temperate regions of Eurasia (Mabberley 2008). From related genera in Triticeae (especially Elymus) it is separated by its perennial habit and keeled glumes.
Agropyron cristatum (and some other species that are doubtfully distinct) are sometimes sown to restore productivity to areas that have been overgrazed, burned or otherwise disturbed (Barkworth 2007). They also occur as weeds of agricultural fields.
Literature:
Barkworth M.E. (2007) Agropyron. In: Barkworth M.E. & al. (eds.), Flora of North America north of Mexico, vol. 24: 277-279. Oxford University Press, New York-Oxford.
Bor N.L. (1968) Gramineae. In: Townsend & al. (eds.), Flora of Iraq, vol. 9. Ministry of Agriculture, Baghdad: VI + 588 p.
Conert H.J. (ed.) (1998) Gustav Hegi Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa. Band I, Teil 3 Poaceae (3.Auflage). Parey Buchverlag, Berlin: XXVII + 898 p.
Mabberley D.J. (2008) Mabberley’s plant-book (3th ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XVIII + 1021 p.
Mizianty M. (1999) The Agropyron-Elymus complex (Poaceae) in Poland: the genus Agropyron. Fragm. Flor. Geobot., suppl.7: 47-57.
Mizianty M., Frey L. & Szczepaniak M. (1999) The Agropyron-Elymus complex (Poaceae) in Poland: nomenclatural problems. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. 44(1): 3-33.
Mizianty M., Frey L. & Szczepaniak M. (2001) The Agropyron-Elymus complex (Poaceae) in Poland: biosystematics. In: Frey L (ed.), Studies on grasses in Poland. Krakow: W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences: 25-77.
Mizianty M. & Szczepaniak M. (1997) Remarks on the Agropyron-Elymus complex (Poaceae) with special reference to its representatives in Poland. Fragm. Flor. Geobot. 42(2): 215-225.
Tsvelev N.N. (1984) Grasses of the Soviet Union, part 1 and 2. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam: XVI + 1196 p.