Alopecurus sp.
Foxtail, Foxtail
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Alopecurus sp. (Foxtail) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Alopecurus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Alopecurus sp. belong to?
Alopecurus sp. is in the Poaceae family, genus Alopecurus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Alopecurus aequalis — Short-awn foxtail
- Alopecurus aequalis var. aequalis — Shortawn foxtail
- Alopecurus aequalis var. sonomensis — Sonoma alopecurus
- Alopecurus carolinianus — Carolina foxtail
- Alopecurus geniculatus — Water foxtail
- Alopecurus myosuroides — Slender meadow foxtail
- Ammophila arenaria — European beachgrass
- Ammophila sp. — Beachgrass
- Andropogon sp. — Bluestem
- Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus — Broomsedge bluestem
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.