Species Detail Grasses

Plant - Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)		Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants Alopecurus geniculatus - water foxtail Other Common Names: marsh foxtail Plant Form: Grass Family: Poaceae


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Leaves Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)	Seedhead Max Licher @http://swbiodiversity.org, Usage Rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)


	Grass Description - Glossary of Grass Terminology Origin: Introduced Season: Warm Habitat Description: Grows in mud and shallow water. Found in ditches, open wet meadows, along shores and stream banks from lowland to montane zones. Plant Communities:Riparian Elevation: Below 8000 feet Similar Species: Phlegm pratense General Description Desc: Plants may be annual or perennial and are sometimes shortly rhizomatous. Stems are erect or trailing, occasionally rooting at the nodes. Leaves are inserted mostly on the lower 1/2 of the stems. Identification Notes: Lemma awns bent and twisted below, much longer than the glumes. Flat blades. Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: Y Stolons: N Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): N Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: 12 to 24 inches Seedhead Structure: Branched - contracted Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jun - Aug Flower Characteristics Number of Flowers per Spikelet: One-flowered Spikelets One-sided: N Awns: Less than 1/4 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: Y Flower and Seedhead Notes: Single-flowered spikelets are densely compressed along the entire length of each seedhead. The spikelets are attached to branches rather than to the main axis of the seedhead. Seedheads may have a purplish hue. Vegetative Charcteristics Blade Hairy: N Blade with White Margins: N Blade Cross section: Flat Blade Notes: Leaf sheaths are open and loosely clasp the stems. Blades are flat, green to grayish-green, with clear veins. Leaf blades are usually smooth but may feel rough, especially on the lower surface. Sheath Hairy: N Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar: N Ligules: Membranous Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area: N Forage Value: The foliage is browsed when young, but becomes less palatable as it matures and may present a greater association with fungi responsible for equine pulmonary disease. Nutritive value is poor.


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetailGrass.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer