Alopecurus aequalis
Alopecurus aequalis
Alopecurus aequalis is a common species of grass known as shortawn foxtail or orange foxtail. It is native to much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere from Eurasia to North America. It is most commonly found in areas near fresh water, such as the margins of ponds and ditches.
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Gallery
Alopecurus aequalis (3822645780)AlopecurusAequalis1
Alopecurus aequalis sl14
Alopecurus aequalis sl17
Alopecurus aequalis sl34
Alopecurus aequalis sl41Alopecurus aequalis (3822645780)AlopecurusAequalis1Overview
This perennial bunchgrass is variable in appearance. It produces bunches of erect stems between 20 and about 70 centimeters in height. The leaves are 2–15 cm long; the basal leaves are the longest and the few stem leaves are long-sheathing. The cylindrical inflorescence is a few centimeters long and blooms with white to yellow to bright orange anthers about 0.5-0.8 mm long.
The leaf blades are narrow, about 1–8 mm wide. The flowers are attached to branches, rather than the main axis of the inflorescence.
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
The plant is propagated mainly by **seed**: sow fresh or pre-treated seed in loose, moist soil and keep it evenly damp; germination follows within a few weeks.
Seedling & growth
Seedlings establish, forming leaves and roots; growth rate depends on light and moisture.
Flowering
The plant blooms with **soft foxtail spikes, spring–summer**; pollination is by insects and wind.
Fruiting & harvest
After flowering the plant sets fruit and seed; **ripe grain gathered in summer**.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Finland14%
- France13%
- Germany12%
- United States8%
- Sweden8%
- Russia6%
- Czechia4%
- Other regions35%
Habitat & conservation
A. aequalis has a C3 metabolism, grows best in full to partial sun, and can tolerate shallow standing water for up to two months during the growing season. One variety of this species, var. sonomensis, is a rare California endemic grass which is federally listed as an endangered species of the United States.
References
- 1Alopecurus aequalis — Wikipedia — Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), 2026
- 2NatureServe Explorer — Wikipedia,
- 3Alopecurus aequalis {{! — Wikipedia,
- 4Alopecurus aequalis (Shortawn Foxtail): Minnesota Wildflowers — www.minnesotawildflowers.info,
- 5GBIF — occurrence records of Alopecurus aequalis — GBIF, 2026
- 6IUCN Red List — Alopecurus aequalis — IUCN, 2024
- 7Hình ảnh — Wikimedia Commons (6 ảnh, giấy phép CC/PD) — Wikimedia Commons, 2026