Creeping foxtail

Alopecurus arundinaceus

Family: Poaceae Genus: Alopecurus Species: arundinaceus

Synonyms: Alopecurus geniculatus var. ventricosus, Alopecurus nigricans var. humilis, Alopecurus muticus, Alopecurus nigricans var. halophilus, Alopecurus repens, Alopecurus arundinaceus var. ruthenicus, Alopecurus arundinaceus f. longiaristatus, Alopecurus ruthenicus, Alopecurus arundinaceus f. brachystachys, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. nigricans, Alopecurus ruthenicus var. nigricans, Alopecurus pratensis var. ventricosus, Alopecurus arundinaceus subsp. exserens, Alopecurus pratensis var. armenus, Alopecurus elatior, Alopecurus arundinaceus var. exserens, Alopecurus arundinaceus f. breviaristatus, Alopecurus pratensis var. exaltatus, Alopecurus salvatoris, Alopecurus nigricans var. ventricosus, Alopecurus castellanus, Alopecurus pratensis var. castellanus, Alopecurus arundinaceus subsp. castellanus, Alopecurus ruthenicus var. exserens, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. ventricosus, Alopecurus armenus, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. arundinaceus, Alopecurus ventricosus var. exserens, Alopecurus arundinaceus subsp. subaristatus, Alopecurus ventricosus var. lobatus, Alopecurus nigrescens, Alopecurus aquaticus, Alopecurus liouvilleanus, Alopecurus pratensis var. uliginosus, Alopecurus pratensis var. arundinaceus, Alopecurus nigricans var. exserens, Alopecurus pratensis var. nigricans, Alopecurus arundinaceus subsp. armenus, Alopecurus nigricans, Alopecurus sibiricus, Alopecurus pratensis var. ruthenicus, Alopecurus pratensis, Alopecurus arundinaceus var. pashkiensis, Alopecurus pratensis subsp. aquaticus, Alopecurus intermedius, Alopecurus exaltatus, Alopecurus pratensis var. exserens, Alopecurus ventricosus var. glaucus

Creeping foxtail (en)

Gallery

Botanical Description

Alopecurus arundinaceus, commonly known as creeping meadow foxtail or reed foxtail, is a robust rhizomatous perennial grass in the family Poaceae native to Europe, temperate Asia, and parts of North Africa, and widely introduced elsewhere including the steppe regions of North America for forage and erosion control. The plant arises from long, stout, scaly rhizomes and forms loose to dense colonies. Culms are erect, hollow, and 50 to 120 centimetres tall, smooth and somewhat glaucous below the inflorescence. Leaves are mostly cauline, with flat, ribbed blades 10 to 30 centimetres long and 4 to 10 millimetres wide, slightly rough to the touch and tapering to a fine point; ligules are membranous, 2 to 5 millimetres long, and truncate. The inflorescence is a dense, cylindrical, spike-like panicle 4 to 10 centimetres long and 8 to 14 millimetres wide, greyish-purple to nearly black at flowering. Each spikelet is single-flowered, 4 to 6 millimetres long, with hairy ciliate-keeled glumes and a bent dorsal awn projecting just beyond the glumes.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Baltic States, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Central European Rus, China North-Central, Chita, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Inner Mongolia, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Krasnoyarsk, Krym, Kuril Is., Lebanon-Syria, Magadan, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, North Caucasus, North European Russi, Northwest European R, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Qinghai, Romania, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

224348

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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