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''Alopecurus pratensis'', known as the meadow foxtail or the field meadow foxtail, is a Perennial plant, 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 Naturalisation (biology), naturalised in many areas outside its native range, including Australia and North America.
BSBI Description
retrieved 1 December 2010.
''Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir'' [Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi
Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar. Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands [Icelandic Institute of Natural History]. ISSN 1027-832X * ''Cladosporium phlei'' * ''Claviceps purpurea'' * ''Erysiphe graminis'' * ''Mastigosporium album'' * ''Mastigosporium rubricosum'' * ''Periconia hispidula'' * ''Phaeoseptoria poae'' * ''Rhynchosporium orthosporum''
Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants ProfileGrass Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q157346 Alopecurus, pratensis Bunchgrasses of Asia Bunchgrasses of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Description
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 . The Plant stem, stem is erect and hard at the shaft, the sheathes being smooth and cylindrical. The Leaf, leaves are about wide and hairless. Meadow foxtail has a cylindrical inflorescence with chaff, glumes about wide and Raceme, spikelets about long. The ligule is long, with a slightly tattered top.retrieved 1 December 2010.
Similarity to other grassland species
''Alopecurus pratensis'' has two common relatives, Alopecurus geniculatus, marsh foxtail (''Alopecurus geniculatus'') and Alopecurus myosuroides, black grass (''A. myosuroides''). It is often confused with Phleum pratense, timothy (''Phleum pratense''). Timothy flowers later, from June until August. Its spikelets have twin hornlike projections arranged in cylindrical panicles, while meadow foxtail has a single soft awn (botany), awn.Ecology
The caterpillars of some lepidopterans use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Essex skipper (''Thymelicus lineola''). Additionally, male mosquitoes can often be found on this flower drinking the nectar out of it. It is a known host to fungi. These include:Helgi Hallgrímsson & Guðríður Gyða Eyjólfsdóttir (2004)''Íslenskt sveppatal I - smásveppir'' [Checklist of Icelandic Fungi I - Microfungi
Fjölrit Náttúrufræðistofnunar. Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands [Icelandic Institute of Natural History]. ISSN 1027-832X * ''Cladosporium phlei'' * ''Claviceps purpurea'' * ''Erysiphe graminis'' * ''Mastigosporium album'' * ''Mastigosporium rubricosum'' * ''Periconia hispidula'' * ''Phaeoseptoria poae'' * ''Rhynchosporium orthosporum''
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment
{{Taxonbar, from=Q157346 Alopecurus, pratensis Bunchgrasses of Asia Bunchgrasses of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus