''Desmostachya'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of grass in the family

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

Taxonomy

The genus ''Desmostachya'' was originally published as ''Eragrostis'' sect. ''Desmostachya'' in ''The Flora of British India'' 7: 324. 1897. Somehow two prominent botanists,

Joseph Dalton Hooker Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker (30 June 1817 – 10 December 1911) was a British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin's closest friend. For twenty years he served as director of t ...

(1817–1911) and Otto Stapf (1857–1933), were originally each credited separately as the naming authority for the taxon (the type specimen for this section of ''Eragrostis'' being ''

Eragrostis cynosuroides ''Eragrostis'' is a large and widespread genus of plants in the grass family, found in many countries on all inhabited continents and many islands. ''Eragrostis'' is commonly known as lovegrass or canegrass. The name of the genus is derived fr ...

'' ( Retz.) P.Beauv., itself based on a previous species taxon, ''Poa cynosuroides'' Retz.). It is generally accepted that ''Eragrostis'' sect. ''Desmostachya'' Hook.f. is the correct name for the taxon. However, ''E.'' sect. ''Desmostachya'' Stapf is accepted as the

basionym In the scientific name of organisms, basionym or basyonym means the original name on which a new name is based; the author citation of the new name should include the authors of the basionym in parentheses. The term "basionym" is used in both botan ...

for the genus name ''Desmostachya''. A year after it was published as a section of ''Eragrostis'', ''Desmostachya'' was published as a genus in its own right in ''Flora Capensis'' 7: 316. 1898. Two species are recognized: * ''

Desmostachya bipinnata ''Desmostachya bipinnata'', commonly known as halfa grass, big cordgrass, and salt reed-grass, is an Old World perennial grass, long known and used in human history. The grass is tall, tufted, leafy, perennial grass, branching from the base, erec ...

'' (L.) Stapf (commonly known variously as, Kusha grass, Kusa grass, or Darbha Grass ) * ''

Desmostachya cynosuroides ''Desmostachya bipinnata'', commonly known as halfa grass, big cordgrass, and salt reed-grass, is an Old World perennial grass, long known and used in human history. The grass is tall, tufted, leafy, perennial grass, branching from the base, erec ...

'' Stapf ''ex'' Massey : List source :

References

External links

Grassbase - The World Online Grass Flora
Poaceae genera Chloridoideae {{Chloridoideae-stub