Appearance
It flowers from April until June - one of the earliest grasses to do so. Any survey work carried out in mid-summer may miss the grass as a result of this.It can grow to a height of about 110 centimetres. The stem is erect and hard at the shaft,the sheathes being smooth and cylindrical. The leaves are about 5 millimetres wide and hairless. Meadow foxtail has a cylindrical inflorescence with glumes about 5–10 millimetres wide and spikelets about 4–6 millimetres long.
The ligule is 1–2.5 millimetres long, with a slightly tattered top.
Naming
''Alopecurus pratensis'' has two common relatives, marsh foxtail and black grass. It is often confused with timothy. Timothy flowers later, from June until August. Its spikelets have twin hornlike projections arranged in cylindrical panicles, while meadow foxtail has a single soft awn.Habitat
This common plant is found on grasslands, especially on neutral soils. It is found on moist, fertile soils, but avoids waterlogged, light or dry soils. The species forms dense swards leading to low botanical diversity.Predators
The caterpillars of some lepidopterans use it as a foodplant, e.g. the Essex Skipper. Additionally, male mosquitoes can often be found on this flower drinking the nectar out of it.References:
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