categoryZGrasses Grasses List 

CRESTED DOG'S-TAIL

Cynosurus cristatus

Grasses Family [Poaceae]

month8jun month8june month8jul month8july month8aug

category
category8Grasses
status
statusZnative
flower
flower8cream
inner
inner8red
stem
stem8round
stem
stem8hollow

26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
Resembles a test-tube cleaning brush, except that the 'brushes' are on opposite sides and not all the way around. The blades of grass belong to this plant, but not the yellow buttercups or its rounded bobbly fruits.


Mortons Loch, Tayport, Fife. Photo: © John Brailsford
A commoner grass, medium, to 60cm. Spikelets short awned on a one-sided stalked spike.


5th July 2013, Cartmel, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
When in flower numerous violet-coloured anthers dangle on long fine white filaments.


5th July 2013, Cartmel, Cumbria. Photo: © RWD
Flowers are cupped by fan-shaped green things.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
The spent anthers later turn brownish.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
Anthers are doubled, joined in the centre, sometimes resembling x-chromosomes. Fertile spikelets are broader.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
Female flowers have short fine white feathery protrusions.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
Sterile spikelets have narrow florets spread out like stiff fingers.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
Covered in numerous green-purplish fruits each tipped by a fine hair-like protrusion.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
The sinewy stalk is sinuous and wiry.


26th June 2013, gravel quarry, Darcy Lever, Moses Gate Country Pk. Photo: © RWD
A single stalk with a grassy leaf (smooth and 2mm wide) emerging from the sheath.


No relation to : Cat's tail [a grass with a similar name belonging to the Phleum genus] which have long rat's-tail-like inflorescences like Timothy (Phleum pratense)

A very common grass once found throughout the UK, although like many other plants, is on the recession. Habitat includes meadows and pastures. It's only other relative, Rough Dog's-tail (Cynosurus echinatus) looks very different and is rare.


  Cynosurus cristatus  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Poaceae  

Distribution
 family8Grasses family8Poaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Cynosurus
Cynosurus
(Dog's-Tails)

CRESTED DOG'S-TAIL

Cynosurus cristatus

Grasses Family [Poaceae]

WildFlowerFinder Homepage