cocksfoot

Dactylis glomerata

• A very common grass
   
• Flower head has 3 or more compact spikes looking a little like a cock’s foot, hence the name
   
• The base of the stem is flat in cross section
   
• Look out for its protruding anthers (a tiny club-like structure) to tell its flowering
   

Where found

All grassland and waste ground
 

When to look for

• First flowers May-June - view live map

Fabulous cocksfoot facts

• Widely used as a hay and pasture grass because of its high yields and sugar content
  
  
• As with other grasses, the pollen can cause hay fever in some people
  
  
• It is sold in pots as Cat Grass as domestic cats enjoy chewing the young blades
  
  
• Also known as 'orchard grass'