Vulpia myuros (L.) K.C. Gmel.

Locations ofVulpia myuros (L.) K.C. Gmel. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Poaceae
Botanical Name
Vulpia myuros (L.) K.C. Gmel.
Common Name
Rattail Fescue
Synonym(s)
Festuca myuros L.
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Festuca myuros L.
Comments
Sometimes included in Festuca, as by Flora of the Southeastern U.S. and Flora of Virginia. However, according to Darbyshire and Pavlick (in FNA 24), the taxonomy of Festuca is complex, problematic, and not yet definitive. The phylogenetic relationships between Vulpia, with thirty species world-wide, and various clades of the highly variable Festuca seem unresolved; and Lonord (in FNA 24) points out that Vulpia consists mostly of cleistogamous annuals with one anther per floret while Festuca consists of chasmogamous species with three anthers per floret. Moreover, Vulpia forms sterile hybrids with both Festuca and Lolium. Until greater clarity is attained by future studies, we here retain Vulpia based on the morphological evidence that it forms a distinctive evolutionary lineage.
Habitat
Fields, roadsides, clearings, and other open, disturbed habitats. Frequent to common in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont.
Native Status
Introduced

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