Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

Alopecurus is a genus of grasses found in temperate regions. These grasses are commonly known as foxtails, a name derived from their seed clusters that resemble a fox's tail.12

There are approximately 25 species of Alopecurus, primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere's temperate zones. Most are perennial plants characterized by dense, cylindrical, and often brush-like flower clusters. Meadow foxtail (A. pratensis), native to Eurasia, is cultivated as a forage grass in North America.2

The genus name Alopecurus originates from Greek words meaning "fox" and "tail".1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. foxtail
  2. Alopecurus

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.