Meadow Fox-tail

Scientific Name:

Alopecurus pratensis

Status:

Native to Europe and northern Asia.

Flower-head of Meadow Fox-tail
Photo: A J Brown

Plant Description:

Rhizomatous perennial grass to 1 m tall. Leaves flat, to 40 cm long and 14 mm wide and often rather bluish-green. Flower-head a dense, cylindrical, spike-like panicle, 2-9 cm long and 7-10 mm wide. Spikelets are single flowered, the floret having a basely attached, bent awn from 10-14 mm long.

Habitat:

Scattered grass of higher rainfall areas but particularly favouring wetter locations such as wet flats and depressions, drains and swamp margins. Indicative of fresh-water habitats.

Region	Salinity Class	Waterlogging Class
Central and Northern, Western, Gippsland	S0	W1, W2, W3

Comments:

Sown as a pasture grass for hay production in Europe.

Photos of Meadow Fox-tail

Anthers of Meadow Fox-tail
Photo: A J Brown

Anther covered flower-head of Meadow Fox-tail
Photo: A J Brown

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