Fig. 148. Fox-tail

The Description

            1. Fox-tail hath many grassy leaves or blades, rough and hairy, like unto those of Barley, but less and shorter. The stalk is likewise soft and hairy; whereupon doth grow a small spike or ear, soft, and very downy, bristled with very small hairs in shape, like unto a Fox-tail, whereof it took his name, which dieth at the approch of winter, and recovereth itself the next year by falling of his seed.

            There is one or two varieties of this plant in the largeness and smallness of the ear.

            2. Besides these forementioned strangers, there is also another which grows naturally in many watery salt places of this kingdom, as in Kent by Dartford, in Essex, &c. The stalks of this plant are grassy, and some two foot high, with leaves like Wheat or Dog's Grass. The ear is very large, being commonly four or five inches long, downy, soft like silk, and of a brownish colour.

The Place.

            1. This kind of Fox-tail Grass groweth in England, only in gardens.

The Time.

            1. This springeth up in May, of the seed that was scattered the year before, and beareth his tail with his seed in June.

            2. This bears his head in July.

The Names.

            1. There hath not been more said of the ancient or later writers, as touching the name, than is set down, by which they called it in Greek Alopecuros; that is in Latin, Cauda vulpis: in English, Fox-tail.

            2. This by Lobel is called Alopecuros altera maxima Anglica paludosa that is, the large English Marsh Fox-tail.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            I find not anything extant worthy the memory, either of his nature or virtues.