Alopecurus myosuroides

Huds.
Common names: Blackgrass Slender meadow foxtail
Introduced
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 786.
Please click on the illustration for a higher resolution version.
Illustrator: Cindy Roché

Copyright: Utah State University

Plants annual; tufted. Culms (10)40-85 cm, erect. Ligules 2-6 mm, obtuse; blades (2) 3.5-6 mm wide; upper sheaths somewhat inflated. Panicles 4-12 cm long, 3-7 mm wide. Glumes 4.5-7.5 mm, connate in the lower 1/2, coriaceous, sides glabrous, keels winged, ciliate, scabrous distally, lateral veins ciliate or glabrous proximally, apices acute, convergent to parallel; lemmas 4-7 mm, connate in the lower 1/3-1/2, glabrous, apices acute, awns to 12 mm, geniculate, exceeding the lemmas by 3-6 mm; anthers 2.4-4.1 mm, yellow. 2n = 14, 28.

Distribution

Wash., Del., D.C., W.Va., N.J., N.Mex., Tex., La., N.C., S.C., Pa., N.Y., Va., Calif., Ala., Oreg., Maine, Md., Mass., Ohio, Man., Mich., R.I., Kans., Miss., Ky.

Discussion

Alopecurus myosuroides is native to Eurasia, and grows in moist meadows, deciduous forests, and cultivated or disturbed ground. A significant weed species in temperate cereal crops, it is one of the most damaging weeds of winter cereals in England. It has been introduced repeatedly as a weed of cultivation into many parts of the Flora region, but apparently has not spread to a large degree outside of cultivation. Alopecurus myosuroides has been listed as a noxious weed in the state of Washington, one of the states where winter wheat is a major crop.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Alopecurus myosuroides"
William J. Crins +
Blackgrass +  and Slender meadow foxtail +
Wash. +, Del. +, D.C. +, W.Va. +, N.J. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, La. +, N.C. +, S.C. +, Pa. +, N.Y. +, Va. +, Calif. +, Ala. +, Oreg. +, Maine +, Md. +, Mass. +, Ohio +, Man. +, Mich. +, R.I. +, Kans. +, Miss. +  and Ky. +
Introduced +
Gramineae +
Alopecurus myosuroides +
Alopecurus +
species +