# Meadow Foxtail (*Alopecurus pratensis*)

Meadow Foxtail is a grassy plant that grows in fields and meadows. It has soft, fluffy flower heads that look like little tails, making it fun to spot in nature!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Meadow Foxtail](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Alopecurus_pratensis_Grote_vossenstaart_%281%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alopecurus_pratensis_Grote_vossenstaart_%281%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Meadow Foxtail is a tall, slender grass, often reaching a meter high, with soft, dense, cylindrical flower heads. These fuzzy spikes, resembling a fox's tail, can appear greenish-grey or purplish and feel very soft to the touch.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Alopecurus

## Interesting facts

- Its name comes from its fluffy flower head, just like a fox's tail!
- Meadow Foxtail can grow back quickly after animals munch on it!
- This grass is super important food for cows and sheep.
- You can often find it waving in the breeze in your local park.

## Special abilities

- **Wind Whisperer:** Meadow Foxtail can spread its pollen far and wide using the wind, ensuring its seeds can grow in many new places.
- **Tough Roots:** Meadow Foxtail has strong, creeping roots (rhizomes) that help it quickly spread and recover, even after being grazed or mowed.
- **Water Lover:** Meadow Foxtail can thrive in damp soils, allowing it to grow lush and strong where other grasses might struggle.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to early Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — Grazes on its leaves and stems.
- **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — Feeds on the nutritious grass.
- **Shelter:** [Meadow Pipit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-pipit) (*Anthus pratensis*) — Nests and hides among its stems.
- **Depends on:** [Meadow Spittlebug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-spittlebug) (*Philaenus spumarius*) — Feeds on its sap.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always stay on paths and don't pick plants unless an adult says it's okay.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Meadow Foxtail?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Meadow Foxtail?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Meadow Foxtail?

3-10 cm

### When does Meadow Foxtail bloom?

Spring to early Summer

### Is Meadow Foxtail edible?

No

### Is Meadow Foxtail toxic?

None

### What is Meadow Foxtail's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is Meadow Foxtail pollinated?

Wind

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Meadow Foxtail: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-foxtail)