No images found for this plant ID: 1273.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "1273" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
foxtail
Scientific Name: Alopecurus brachystachus
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Foxtail Grasses: A Potential Hazard for Pets
The term "foxtail" is commonly used to refer to various species of wild grasses characterized by spikelet clusters that facilitate seed dispersal. While seemingly innocuous, foxtail plants, particularly during certain seasons, can pose risks, especially to dogs and cats.
Considerations for Pets
- The barbed seed heads of foxtail grasses can penetrate various parts of animals, including the nose and areas between the toes.
- Sneezing in pets after being outdoors, especially in late spring and early summer, may indicate the presence of a foxtail seed in the nasal passage.
Foxtails are a type of diaspore, or plant dispersal unit, that uses its structure to spread seeds. While the term "foxtail" is often applied generically, it is specifically associated with wild barley, Hordeum jubatum.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Common Name: Foxtail
- While "foxtail" is a generic term, it's specifically associated with wild barley (Hordeum jubatum).
- The term "Foxtail" refers to weedy grasses in the genera Alopecurus and Setaria.
- Setaria pumila (Yellow Foxtail)
- Setaria viridis (Green Foxtail)
- Family: Poaceae (Grass Family)
Distribution and Habitat
- Foxtail grasses are known to invade disturbed soils across North America.
Morphological Characteristics
- Setaria viridis (Green Foxtail) is a summer annual grass with a fibrous root system.
- It typically grows 1 to 4 feet (15 to 115 cm) tall and has an erect growth habit.
- The leaf blade of green foxtail is generally flat.
Ecological Role
- The text describes Foxtail as invasive, so it may need monitoring.