Alopecurus geniculatus explained

Alopecurus geniculatus is a species of grass known by the common name water foxtail[1] or marsh foxtail.It is native to much of Eurasia and introduced into North America, South America, and Australia. It grows in moist areas.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Alopecurus geniculatus is a perennial grass forming bunches of erect stems up to about 60 cm (24 inches) in height. The leaves are up 12 cm (5 inches) in length. The pale green to purplish inflorescence is a dense panicle up to 6 or 7 cm long which blooms in dusty yellow-orange anthers.[6] [7] [8] reproduces sexually by seeds and can reproduce vegetatively by rooting at stem nodes.

In Europe, it can be affected by a fungus, known as 'Foxtail Smut', Urocystis alopecuri.[9]

Environmental conservation

Alopecurus geniculatus is a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures a type of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the UK. It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe.

Nonindigenous spread

The grass has spread significantly in the United States since it was first introduced.

Spread!State!First Observed
AK1940
AZ1941
AR1905
CA1900
CO1886
CT1900
DC1900
GA1929
ID1912
IL1860
IN1918
IA1894
KS1890
KY1900
LA1897
ME1893
MD1900
MA1874
MI1900
MN1900
MS1892
MT1884
NE1900
NV1978
NH1900
NJ1915
NM1904
NY1858
ND1915
OH1882
OK1896
OR1884
PA1900
RI1941
SD1900
TN1999
TX1899
UT1894
VT1921
WA1902
WV1900
WI1900
WY1888

Hybrid

Alopecurus geniculatus is known to hybridize with other members of the Alopecurus genus. Alopecurus x haussknechtianus is a hybrid between A. geniculatus and A. aequalis, Alopecurus x brachystylus is a hybrid between A. geniculatus and A. pratensis, Alopecurus x plettkei is s hybrid between A. geniculatus and A. bulbosus (Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland 2016)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: water foxtail (Alopecurus geniculatus) - Species Profile . 2022-06-14 . nas.er.usgs.gov.
  2. Moore, D. M. 1983. Flora de Tierra del Fuego 396 pp. A. Nelson; Missouri Botanical Garden, Oswestry; St. Louis
  3. Soreng, R. J. 2003. Alopecurus. 48: 97–106. In R. J. Soreng, P. M. Peterson, G. Davidse, E. J. Judziewicz, F. O. Zuloaga, T. S. Filgueiras & O. Morrone (eds.) Catalogue of New World Grasses (Poaceae): IV. Subfamily Pooideae, Contributions from the United States National Herbarium. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
  4. Böcher, T. W., K. Holmen & K. Jacobsen. 1968. Flora of Greenland (ed. 2) 312 pp.
  5. Bor, N. L. 1960. Grass. Burma, Ceylon, India & Pakistan i–767. Pergamon Press, Oxford
  6. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=alopecurus+geniculatus Altervista Flora Italiana, Coda di topo ginocchiata, Vulpin genouillé, capim-cauda-de-raposa-dobrado, kärrkavle, Alopecurus geniculatus
  7. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Alopecurus%20geniculatus.png Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
  8. Dogan, M. 1999. A concise taxonomic revision of the genus Alopecurus L. (Gramineae). Türk Botanik Dergisi 23(4): 245–262
  9. Web site: Urocystis alopecuri – Plant Parasites of Europe . bladmineerders.nl . 24 September 2023.