Shortawn Foxtail, Sonoma shortawn foxtail

Alopecurus aequalis

Physical Characteristics

Alopecurus aequalis is a ANNUAL/PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). It is in flower from May to June. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Distribution

Much of Europe, including Britain, to N. Asia.

Habitats

Meadow; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed Edible Uses: Seed - cooked. It can be used whole like millet, but is more usually ground into a flour and used with other cereals in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it is very much a famine food[177, K]. The grains are edible, though historical use by Native Americans is not well documented [2-3]. Like other wild grasses, the seeds can be collected, parched, ground into meal, or boiled into porridge. However, the seeds are very small, and harvesting in meaningful quantities is labor-intensive. Short-awn foxtail thrives in wet soils, often along the edges of lakes, and produces seeds from late summer into autumn. The plant is more notable as a forage grass for grazing animals than as a human food source [2-3].

Medicinal Uses

Antiphlogistic Depurative Diuretic The whole plant is antiphlogistic, depurative and diuretic[147]. It is used in the treatment of oedema, chickenpox and snakebites[147].

Known Hazards

None known