Vulpia myuros
Encyclopedia
Vulpia myuros, 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 its fine hair-like stems in recently disturbed habitats, such as 3-10 year old pulverised fuel ash
, but gets displaced by perennial grasses after (typically) about a decade.
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.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
species of the genus Vulpia
Vulpia
Vulpia is a genus of grasses which are known as fescues; Vulpia is sometimes considered a subset of the main fescue genus, Festuca. Many of these fescues are considered noxious weeds in places where they are not native...
. It was probably originally native to Eurasia, but it can now be found nearly worldwide as a naturalized species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
it forms dense even swards of its fine hair-like stems in recently disturbed habitats, such as 3-10 year old pulverised fuel ash
Pulverised Fuel Ash
Pulverised fuel ash , is a by product of pulverised fuel fired power stations. The fuel is pulverised into a fine powder, mixed with heated air and burned. Approximately 18% of the fuel forms fine glass spheres, the lighter of which are borne aloft by the combustion process...
, but gets displaced by perennial grasses after (typically) about a decade.
Invasive species
Vulpia myuros is considered a noxious weed and invasive speciesInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in places where it is not native, especially in areas with a Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
. For example, it is widespread in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is now a dominant species in many types of grassy habitat.