Technical Abstract: The distinction between native and introduced flora in Australia presents some unique challenges given its geological and colonization history. While it is believed that seven species of Cynodon are present in Australia, no genetic analyses, to date, have investigated the origin, diversity and phylogenetic history of Cynodon within Australia. To address this gap, 147 samples (92 from across Australia and 55 representing global distribution) were sequenced for a total of 3336 bp of chloroplast DNA spanning six genes. Overall, we found no evidence of any native Cynodon species in our dataset, but instead were able to genetically confirm that at least six Cynodon species (C. transvaalensis, C. incompletus, C. hirsutus, C. radiatus, C. plectostachyus and C. dactylon) are present in Australia. While C. plectostachyus had not been recorded to exist in Australia, our analysis suggested its presence. Patterns of haplotype diversity strongly indicated that Cynodon species were introduced into Australia from multiple recent introduction events, which most likely occurred in the last 500 years. More importantly, two haplotypes commonly present in Australia and internationally, formed a monophyletic clade which showed levels of species divergence from previously identified Cynodon species. Our study suggests that these two haplotypes, which previously grouped with C. dactylon, may represent an undescribed species of Cynodon.