Alopecurus
General description:
Annuals or perennials, caespitose or rhizomatous.
Inflorescence densely contracted, cylindrical. Spikelets
with one flower; rachilla extension lacking;
disarticulation below the glumes. Glumes as long
as or longer than the flower, strongly compressed
and keeled, often partially fused near their bases,
their apices truncate to acute, muticous to awned.
Callus of flower glabrous. Lemma keeled, the margins
often partially fused, the apex truncate to
acute, awned from the abaxial side, the awn
straight, curved or geniculate. Lodicules absent.
Stamens 2 or 3. Style 1. 2n ¼ 14, 26, 28, 30, 42,
98, 100, 105, 112, 117, 119, 120.
Fifty-two spp., north temperate regions and
South America.