Foxtail (3)

Creeping Meadow Foxtail
Alopecurus arundinaceus

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Creeping Foxtail
Photo taken on: July 21, 2017
Location: Monte Vista NWR, SLV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Wet, somewhat alkaline soil by rivers, sloughs, ponds

Grows over 3 feet tall with flat leaves that are ½" across and 3" to 16" long. The flower head is a cylindrical dense spike up to 4" long. When young it looks like Timothy, when mature it turns blackish and looks like a small Cattail. Timothy's seed heads turn a light brown at maturity. The individual spikelets are a single flat flower which has hairs along the edges.

Meadow Foxtail
Alopecurus pratensis

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Field Meadow Foxtail
Photo taken on: July 4, 2017
Location: Dillon Pinnacles, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: dry to moist meadows, riverbanks, roadsides

Grows 4 to 5 feet tall with flat, ½" wide leaves up to 16" long. Flower heads are a cylindrical spike up to 4" long with densely packed spikelets. It is planted as a pasture grass. Compare to Timothy.

Short-Awned Foxtail
Alopecurus aequalis

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Orange Foxtail
Photo taken on: July 13, 2018
Location: FS Rd 743, Almont, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to subalpine
Habitat: Wet areas, marshes, pond edges

Grows from 4" to 2 feet tall with flat, narrow leaves up to 5" long. Leaves and stems are bluish-green. Flower head is a cylindrical spike up to 3" long which is initially pale green but blooms with white to yellow to bright orange anthers. The densely packed spikelets have a short bristle (awn) at the tip. Compare to Timothy.