Phleum species - Timothy Grass

There are two species of this common grass in Lanarkshire. It tends to flower later than other grasses and is a potent cause of hay fever in in mid-July and into August. The differences between Phleum pratense - and Phleum bertolonii are based on size and these metric characters are not truly distinct. Obviously a pratense may grow through the size of a bertolonii.

Phleum pratense - Timothy

Inflorescence (2) - 6 - 15 - (30) cm long, spikelets are 3 - 4 mm long excluding the awns.

Phleum bertolonii - Smaller Cat's-tail

Inflorescence 1 - 6 - (8) cm long, spikelets are 2 - 3 mm long excluding the awns.

Phleum pratense NS6051 9July2020 PW

Phleum pratense NS6667 28June2018 FM

This is a close-up of the flower head bent back on itself. It shows the double-awned florets which look like a pair of horns. This is useful to distinguish it from Alopecurus pratense (Meadow Foxtail) which also flowers much earlier.

Phleum pratense NS6051 9July2020 PW

The ligule is short and often tattered.

Phleum pratense NS5870 26June19 PW

Phleum bertolonii NS6573 2Aug2020 PW

The spikelet is less than 3mm long, excluding the “horns” (awns).

Phleum bertolonii NS6057 4Aug2020 PW

The ligule tends to be more pointed than in P. pratense.

Phleum bertolonii NN6258 5July2019 PW