Alopecurus myosuroides
Slender meadow foxtail
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Alopecurus myosuroides (Slender meadow foxtail) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by large size, large floral parts, and low-elevation pasture habitat.
Slender meadow foxtail is a naturalized annual grass found in the San Joaquin Valley and southern coastal regions of California in pastures at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to May, this grass produces pale green to green foxtail-like spikes approximately 7 to 10 centimeters long. Growing with upright stems 40 to 45 centimeters tall, it has slender and somewhat delicate aerial growth. Its leaf blades are narrow, measuring 8 to 11 centimeters long and 3.5 to 6 millimeters wide, with a ligule 4.5 to 6 millimeters in length. The spikelet's lemma has a distinctive bent awn that extends 3 to 4 millimeters beyond the lemma body.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; distinguished by large size, large floral parts, and low-elevation pasture habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pastures
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Alopecurus myosuroides blooms Mar-May.
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 myosuroides native to California?
No. Alopecurus myosuroides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Alopecurus myosuroides bloom?
Alopecurus myosuroides blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Alopecurus myosuroides belong to?
Alopecurus myosuroides is in the Poaceae family, genus Alopecurus.
What habitat does Alopecurus myosuroides grow in?
Alopecurus myosuroides grows in Pastures.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.