Ptilagrostis is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. They are distributed in Asia and North America. They are known commonly as false needlegrasses. Plants of this genus were originally separated from the genus Stipa, and their relationship to that genus is still unclear. Some authorities still include them in Stipa, sometimes classifying Ptilagrostis as a section of that genus. Some species are difficult to separate, being intermediate in form. see Stipa * Ptilagrostis tianschanica -