Meadow Foxtail
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| Meadow Foxtail | |
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| 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. |
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The Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), also known as 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 can grow to a height of about 110 cm. The stem is erect or geniculate at the base. The leaves are about 5 mm wide. Meadow Foxtail has a cylindrical inflorescence, with glumes about 5-10 mm wide and spikelets about 4-6 mm long. It flowers from late spring to early summer and often again from late summer till autumn.
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. The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola). And male mosquitos can often be found on this flower drinking the nectar.
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