82. Oryzopsis Michx. (mountain rice, rice grass)

As traditionally circumscribed (Clayton and Renvoize, 1986), a genus of about 35 species of the Northern Hemisphere, especially the Middle East.

Barkworth (1993) suggested that the genus Oryzopsis might best be restricted to a single species of the northern United States and Canada, with an additional three North American species requiring further study. She included two North American species, including one native to Missouri, in Piptatherum P. Beauv., a predominately Eurasian genus of about 30 species. Watson and Dallwitz (1992), however, were unable to separate Piptatherum from Oryzopsis in their comprehensive analysis of grass genera.