SafePlants

Alopecurus saccatus - Pacific Foxtail

Alopecurus saccatus, commonly known as Pacific foxtail or Pacific meadow foxtail, is a species of grass found in specific regions of the United States.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions that foxtail plants, in general, can be risky for pets, particularly dogs and cats.
• The barbed seed heads of foxtail grasses can work their way into various parts of an animal's body.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Alopecurus saccatus
• Common Names: Pacific foxtail, Pacific meadow foxtail, Annual Foxtail, Foxtail.
• Synonyms: Alopecurus californicus, Alopecurus howellii
• Belongs to the genus Alopecurus, which is a common and widespread genus in the grass family (Poaceae).

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the west coast of the United States.
• Specifically mentioned as growing in vernal ponds northwest of The Dalles, Oregon.
• Also found in the Pacific Northwest region.

Ecological Role

• Described as a "pesky weed" in vernal pools.
• Green foxtail and yellow foxtail are mentioned as weeds in irrigated fields in the Pacific Northwest.

Morphological Characteristics

• Annual grass.
• Fibrous-rooted.
• Cespitose (growing in tufts or clumps).
• Several-stemmed at the base.
• Erect to decumbent (lying down but with the tip ascending).
• Reaches a height of 12-40 cm.

Quirky Facts

• An article in the Pacific Rural Press from 1900 discusses the use of foxtail in silage, suggesting it was once considered a forage plant.

Further Information

• Discover Life has a page dedicated to the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Alopecurus saccatus.
• Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. Manual of the grasses of the United States. Washington, DC.