Alopecurus myosuroides

Species category

Weed

Common name

slender meadow foxtail

Diagnostic characters

Planting unit

SpikeletSpikelet:
One or more florets that are subtended by a pair of bracts called glumes. Spikelets are pedicellate if located on a pedicle and sessile if attached directly to the rachis. Often spikelets with single florets have remnants of a second floret, usually a lemma.

Shape

Lanceolate

Size

  • Length: 5 mm
  • Width: 1.5 mm
  • Thickness: 0.5 mm

Color

Yellow

Texture

Short pubescence on glumeGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
keels.

Lemma

Obscured by glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
.

Palea

Obscured by glumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
.

Other structures

Weak geniculate awnsAwn:
A narrow, bristle-like organ, as on the glumes or lemmas of grasses (Poaceae).

Identification notes

GlumesGlume:
The pair of chaffy bracts that occur at the base of a grass spikelet, often completely enclosing it.
do not recurve.

Noxious weed seed categories

State Noxious Weed: Washington 

AOSA examination list

Not included

More information

For more information, see ISMA fact sheet.

Nomenclature

Family

Poaceae

Valid name

Alopecurus myosuroides Huds.

Synonyms

Alopecurus agrestis L.

 Alopecurus myosuroides.  Lanceolate spikelets with weak awns.
Alopecurus myosuroides. Lanceolate spikelets with weak awns.
 Alopecurus myosuroides . Lateral view of inflorescence / infructescence.  Photo by Ana Margina, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.
Alopecurus myosuroides. Lateral view of inflorescence / infructescence.  Photo by Ana Margina, USDA-APHIS-PPQ.