Annual fescue

Description

Vulpia myuros, the annual fescue, or rat's-tail fescue, is an annual grass species of the genus Vulpia. It was probably originally native to Eurasia, but it can now be found nearly worldwide as a naturalized species. In the United Kingdom it forms dense, even swards of fine, hair-like stems in recently disturbed habitats. It is often eventually displaced by perennial grasses. Vulpia myuros is considered a noxious weed and invasive species in places where it is not native, especially in areas with a Mediterranean climate. For example, it is widespread in California, where it is now a dominant species in many types of grassy habitat. Vulpia is a widespread genus of plants in the grass family, native to many countries around the world and naturalized in many of the nations to which it is not native. It is most common in temperate regions. Vulpia is a part of a group of species known as fescues; Vulpia is sometimes considered a subset of the main fescue genus, Festuca. Many of these fescues are considered noxious weeds in many places. Vulpia myuros is a notable weed. The genus is named for Johann Samuel Vulpius (1760-1846), a German botanist.