Crested dog’s-tail (Cynosurus cristatus, Sp. Pl.: 72 (1753))

Family: Poaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 72 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Cynosurus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Azores, Europe to NW. Iran

Description

Crested dog’s-tail, scientifically known as Cynosurus cristatus, is a species of grass that belongs to the Poaceae family. This plant was first described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work, “Species Plantarum,” published in 1753.

Cynosurus cristatus is widely distributed across various regions, from the Azores archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean to the vast expanse of Europe and extending towards the northwest of Iran. Its resilience and adaptability have allowed it to thrive across diverse climates and geographical locations.

Recognized for its distinctive appearance, Crested dog’s-tail is a perennial grass that forms dense, tufted clumps. The plant’s flowers are arranged in a unique way, giving the inflorescence a characteristic tufted look that resembles a dog’s tail, which is likely the origin of its common name.

This grass is often found in meadows, pastures, and other open habitats where it contributes significantly to the ecosystem. It provides an important source of fodder for grazing animals and plays a role in maintaining soil health and preventing erosion.

Due to its ecological importance and wide distribution, Cynosurus cristatus is a subject of interest in botanical studies and environmental conservation efforts.

Common Names

Dan: almindelig kamgræs, kamgræs
Eng: crested dog’s-tail, crested dogstail grass, crested dogtail grass, crested dogtail
Deu: kammgras, weidekammgras, wiesen-kammgras
Ita: coda di cane
Spa: cola de perro
Fra: crétalle, crêtelle des prés, crêtelle à crêtes, crételle des prés, crételle, crételle à crêtes
Nor: kam-grass
Nno: kamgras
Nld: kamgras
Nob: kamgras
Swe: kamäxing, otasukapää, kamgräs
Fin: otasukapää
Por: rabo-de-cão
Cym: rhonell y ci, rhonwellt y ci, rhonwellt y ci cribog
En: Crested dog’s-tail, Crested dogstail grass, Crested Dog’s-Tail Grass, Crested dogstailgrass, Crested dogtail grass, Crested dogtail, Crested Dogstail, Crested Dogstail-grass
Ar: ذيل الكلب المريش
Be: Грэбнік звычайны
Bg: Обикновен сеноклас
Ca: Cinosur cristat, Cua de gos
Zh: Yang gou wei cao, 洋狗尾草
Cs: Poháňka hřebenitá
Da: Almindelig Kamgræs, Kamgræs
Nl: Kamgras
Et: Harilik sugapea
Fi: Otasukapää
Fr: Crêtelle à crêtes, Crêtelle des prés, Crétalle, Crételle des prés, Crételle, Crételle à crêtes, Cynosure à crêtes, Cynosure crételle
De: Weidekammgras, Gemeines Kammgras, Kammgras, Weide-Kammgras, Wiesen-Kammgras, Wiesenkammgras
It: Coda di cane, Covetta dei prati
Lv: Parastā sekstaine
Mk: Обична кикиришка
No: Kam-grass
Nb: Kamgras
Nn: Kamgras
Pl: Grzebienica pospolita
Pt: Rabo-de-cão
Es: Cola de perro
Sv: Kamäxing, Otasukapää, Kamgräs
Zh-tw: 洋狗尾草
Cy: Rhonwellt y ci, Rhonell y Ci, Rhonwellt y Ci Cribog

Synonyms

• Cynosurus neglectus var. tenuis (Opiz)
• Phleum cristatum ((L.) Scop.)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. viviparus (Koeler)
• Cynosurus cristatus f. tenuis ((Opiz) Soó)
• Cynosurus cristatus f. tenuissimus ((Schur) Morariu)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. tenuissimus (Schur)
• Cynosurus spiralis (Lojac.)
• Cynosurus neglectus var. pratensis (Opiz)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. giganteus (Mutel)
• Cynosurus neglectus f. tenuis (Opiz)
• Cynosurus cristatus f. pratensis ((Opiz) Soó)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. foliosus (Bolzon)
• Cynosurus neglectus var. communis (Opiz)
• Cynosurus neglectus (Opiz)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. ciliatus (Guss.)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. coloratus (Rohlena)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. tetragonus (Gray)
• Cynosurus cristatus var. ovatus (Asch. & Graebn.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Antipodean Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile South (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Falkland Is. (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Irkutsk (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• New Hampshire (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Rhode I. (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jun 5, 2022 by Daniel Bourget (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Clara Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2021 by Manon Ln (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 2, 2022 by Samuele (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 21, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ondřej Zicha (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − P. Gourdain (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2015 by EOL − Drepanostoma (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jun 22, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Emanuele Santarelli (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 9, 2021 by François Vannier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 14, 2021 by Kabilan Nadarajah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2021 by Easger Aukema (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2022 by Céline Barbieri (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 3, 2022 by Céline Barbieri (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken Jun 5, 2021 by Easger Aukema (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 31, 1847 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2021 by Easger Aukema (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 3, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2704395)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:397168-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Cynosurus cristatus L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Graminoid

Growth

Ph maximum: 6.5

Ph minimum: 5.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘may’, ‘jun’, ‘jul’]

Soil nutriments: 5