Alopecurus pratensis

Alopecurus pratensis
Meadow Foxtail
Habitus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Alopecurus
Species: A. pratensis
Binomial name
Alopecurus pratensis
L.
Inflorescence (seed pod)

Alopecurus pratensis, known as the Meadow Foxtail or the Field Meadow Foxtail, is a perennial grass, belonging to the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Europe and Asia.

This common plant is found on grasslands, especially on neutral soils. It is found on moist, fertile soils, but avoids waterlogged, light or dry soils. The species forms dense swards leading to low botanical diversity.

This species is widely cultivated for pasture and hay, and has become naturalised in many areas outside of its native range, including Australia and North America.

Contents

Identification

It flowers from April until June - one of the earliest grasses to do so. Any survey work carried out in mid-Summer may miss the grass as a result of this.

It can grow to a height of about 110 cm. The stem is erect or geniculate at the base, the sheathes being smooth and cylindrical. The leaves are about 5 mm wide and hairless. Meadow Foxtail has a cylindrical inflorescence, with glumes about 5–10 mm wide and spikelets about 4–6 mm long.

The ligule is 1 to 2.5 mm long, with a slightly tattered top.[1]

Similarity to other grassland species

Alopecurus pratensis has two common relatives Marsh Foxtail Alopecurus geniculatus and Black Grass Alopecurus myosuroides.

However It is usually confused with Timothy-grass Phleum Pratense. Timothy flowers later from June until August. The spikelets of Timothy are twin horn like projections arranged in cylindrical panicles, foxtail has a soft, single awn.

Ecology

The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola). Additionally, male mosquitos can often be found on this flower drinking the nectar.

Anthers detached from a Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis)

References

  1. ^ BSBI Description retrieved 2010-12-1.

External links


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  • Alopecurus pratensis — Meadow Mead ow, a. Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. Fat meadow ground. Milton. [1913 Webster] Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see the particular word in the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Alopecurus pratensis — Grass Grass, n. [OE. gras, gres, gers, AS, gr[ae]s, g[ae]rs; akin to OFries. gres, gers, OS., D., G., Icel., & Goth. gras, Dan. gr[ae]s, Sw. gr[aum]s, and prob. to E. green, grow. Cf. {Graze}.] 1. Popularly: Herbage; the plants which constitute… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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  • ALOPECURUS PRATENSIS L. - ЛИСОХВОСТ ЛУГОВОЙ, БАТЛАЧЕК — см. 60. Многолетнее растение. A. pratensis L. Л. луговой, Батлачек Sp. pi. (1753)60. Руков. по апроб. IV (1950) 188, рис. Лапшин (1953) 260. М е с т н. н а з в. Англ. meadow foxtail; фр. vulpin des pres, vulpine, queue de renard; нем. Wiesen… …   Справочник растений

  • Alopecurus pratensis — ID 2809 Symbol Key ALPR3 Common Name meadow foxtail Family Poaceae Category Monocot Division Magnoliophyta US Nativity Introduced to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution AK, AL, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI,… …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Alopecurus pratensis — noun stout erect perennial grass of northern parts of Old World having silky flowering spikes; widely cultivated for pasture and hay; naturalized in North America • Syn: ↑meadow foxtail • Hypernyms: ↑foxtail, ↑foxtail grass • Member Holonyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

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