Festuca myuros
Festuca myuros
Synonyms: Vulpia ciliata, Vulpia megalura, Vulpia myuros var. subuniglumis, Vulpia crinita, Festuca myuros var. pseudonardurus, Festuca myuros var. hirsuta, Vulpia myuros subsp. pseudomyuros, Vulpia major, Vulpia vaginata, Vulpia myuros f. megalura, Festuca megalura, Mygalurus caudatus, Vulpia myuros subsp. megalura, Zerna myuros, Vulpia murorum, Vulpia myuros var. hirsuta, Vulpia myuros f. hirsuta, Festuca myuros f. racemifera, Festuca myuros var. subnuda, Festuca bromoides var. pseudomyuros, Festuca myuros var. racemifera, Vulpia myuros var. pseudomyuros, Distomomischus myuros, Vulpia alpina, Festuca myuros subsp. pseudomyuros, Vulpia pilosa, Vulpia pseudomyuros, Festuca myuros f. major, Festuca pseudomyuros, Avena muralis, Vulpia longivaginata, Festuca pseudomyuros var. reclinata, Festuca myuros var. distans, Vulpia myuros, Bromus bohemicus, Vulpia myuros f. exserens, Festuca sciuroides var. tecta, Festuca linearis, Festuca myuros var. exerens, Vulpia myuros var. megalura, Vulpia myuros f. racemifera, Festuca myuros var. major, Vulpia reclinata, Festuca myuros var. willemetii, Vulpia bromoides var. rigida, Festuca myuros f. exserens, Festuca sciuroides var. pseudomyuros, Vulpia myuros var. deserti, Festuca commutata
Botanical Description
Festuca myuros (rat's-tail fescue, annual fescue; widely known by its synonym Vulpia myuros) is a slender, densely tufted annual grass of the family Poaceae growing 10–60 cm tall on fine, erect to ascending hair-like culms. The narrow, inrolled (involute), dark green leaf blades are 4–15 cm long and less than 1 mm wide, often only a few visible above the closely sheathing leaf bases, with a very short blunt membranous ligule. The inflorescence is a long, narrow, drooping or curving spike-like panicle 5–25 cm long that resembles a rat's tail, typically pressed close to the upper sheath, with short branches bearing densely packed elongated spikelets each 7–10 mm long containing 4–7 florets; the lemmas terminate in long, slender, straight awns 8–15 mm long that give the panicle a bristly appearance. Probably originally native to dry sandy and stony ground in Europe and western Asia, F. myuros is now naturalised practically worldwide and is regarded as a noxious invasive in regions with a Mediterranean climate, particularly California where it has become dominant in many disturbed grasslands.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.