Alopecurus carolinianus
Carolina foxtail
(c) Chris Fluit, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Alopecurus carolinianus (Carolina foxtail) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by differentiated by annual habit, bent awns, and vernal pool habitat.
Carolina foxtail is a California native annual found in the North Coast Ranges, California Foothills, Great Valley, Central Coast, Southern Coast, and Peninsular Ranges in vernal pools and disturbed ground at elevations of 50 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from May to June, this delicate grass produces pale green to white spikelets with distinctive bent awns extending beyond the spikelet body. Growing with slender stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms thin, loosely clustered bunches in open habitats. Its narrow leaves are 1 to 8 centimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide, with a ligule measuring 3 to 4.5 millimeters. The inflorescence is compact, measuring 1 to 7 centimeters long and 4 to 6 millimeters wide, with small glumes and delicate anthers.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; differentiated by annual habit, bent awns, and vernal pool habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools, open, disturbed ground
Elevation: 50-1400 m
California counties: Butte, Kern, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sutter, Monterey, Lake, Plumas, Merced, Madera, Shasta, Lassen, Yuba, Modoc, San Diego, Humboldt, Calaveras, Sacramento, Kings, Mono, El Dorado, San Joaquin, Ventura
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America
Bloom period
Alopecurus carolinianus blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Hordeum: Alopecurus has soft, single bristles; Hordeum has stiff, spreading bristles in groups of three.; vs Phalaris: Alopecurus has bristles from each flower; Phalaris has awnless, egg-shaped spikes.; vs Phleum: Alopecurus has a bristle from each flower; Phleum is awnless with a smoother cylinder.; vs Plantago: Alopecurus is a grass; Plantago has broad, basal leaves and is not a grass.; vs Cenchrus: Alopecurus has a fuzzy cylinder; Cenchrus has spiny burs enclosing seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alopecurus carolinianus native to California?
Yes. Alopecurus carolinianus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Alopecurus carolinianus bloom?
Alopecurus carolinianus blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Alopecurus carolinianus grow?
Alopecurus carolinianus occurs in Butte, Kern, Fresno, Los Angeles, Sutter, Monterey, Lake, Plumas and other counties, at elevations of 50-1400 m.
What plant family does Alopecurus carolinianus belong to?
Alopecurus carolinianus is in the Poaceae family, genus Alopecurus.
What habitat does Alopecurus carolinianus grow in?
Alopecurus carolinianus grows in Vernal pools, open, disturbed ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.