Alopecurus pratensis* L. Sp. Pl. 1:
60 (1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Common name:
Meadow Foxtail.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: (LINN-82.1). LT designated by Cope, Regnum
Veg. 127: 17 (1993).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (145), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (193), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (115), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (253 as spp. pratensis).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (144,
Pl. 42), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (193, fig. 142), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (115), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae
2 (232, Fig.32), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (115).
Derivation: L. pratum,
a meadow; -ense, place of origin. Meadow species.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 30–120 cm tall. Ligule an
eciliate membrane, 1–2.5 mm long, obtuse. Leaf-blades 6–40 cm long, 3–10 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 2–13 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic or
oblong, laterally compressed, 4–6.2 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume elliptic or oblong, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled,
wingless, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume elliptic or
oblong, 4–6 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, wingless, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume surface indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–6 mm long, keeled, 4–5 -nerved. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1
-awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 6–10 mm long overall. Palea absent.
Lodicules absent or vestigial. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North
America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Austin. Dale, Menzies. South Australia: Murray, Southern Lofty. New
South Wales: Southern Tablelands, South-Western Slopes. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Midlands, Otway Plain,
Otway Range, Volcanic Plain. Tasmania: Midlands, East Coast.
Notes. Introduced.
Occurring in temperate Australia. Native to Europe, naturalised in the Americas
and New Zealand. Wet areas, useful as a pasture grass in areas of moderate to
high rainfall. Flowers Aug.-Feb.
