Alopecurus geniculatus

Alopecurus geniculatus is a perennial grass forming bunches of erect stems up to about 60 cm (24 in) in height. The leaves are up 12 cm (4.7 in) in length. The pale green to purplish inflorescence is a dense panicle up to 6 or 7 cm (2.4 or 2.8 in) long which blooms in dusty yellow-orange anthers. reproduces sexually by seeds and can reproduce vegetatively by rooting at stem nodes.

In Europe, it can be affected by a fungus, known as 'Foxtail Smut', Urocystis alopecuri.

Environmental conservation

Alopecurus geniculatus is a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures a type of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the UK. It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe.