Timothy (grass) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Timothy |
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| Habitus, ssp. pratense | |
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Phleum
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pratense
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Timothy (Phleum pratense) is a common type of perennial grass. This means it lives for more than two years. It grows naturally in most parts of Europe, but not in the Mediterranean area.
You might also hear it called timothy-grass, meadow cat's-tail, or common cat's tail. It belongs to a group of grasses called Phleum, which has about 15 different kinds of grasses.
Timothy grass is thought to be named after Timothy Hanson. He was an American farmer who brought this grass from New England to the southern states in the early 1700s. Because of his advice, it became a very important source of hay and food for cattle for British farmers in the mid-1700s.
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What Does Timothy Grass Look Like?
Timothy grass can grow quite tall, from about 48 to 150 centimeters (19 to 59 inches). Its leaves can be up to 43 centimeters (17 inches) long and 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) wide. The leaves are smooth and rolled, not folded. The lower parts of the leaf stems often turn dark brown.
This grass does not have stolons (runners that grow along the ground) or rhizomes (underground stems). It also does not have small ear-like parts called auricles at the base of its leaves.
Timothy Grass Flowers
The flower head of Timothy grass is long and narrow, usually 7 to 15 centimeters (2.75 to 6 inches) long and 0.6 to 1.3 centimeters (0.25 to 0.5 inches) wide. The flowers are packed very closely together. It blooms from June all the way until September. The parts of the flower that hold pollen, called stamens, are often pink.
The small flap of tissue where the leaf meets the stem, called the ligule, is short and blunt.
Where Timothy Grass Grows Best
Timothy grass grows well in heavy soil. It is known for being strong against cold weather and dry conditions. This means it can grow in dry, high areas or in poor, sandy soils.
When it grows in a pasture (a field where animals graze), other grasses that grow faster can sometimes take over. After it is cut, Timothy grass grows back slowly.
Types of Timothy Grass
There are two main types, or subspecies, of Timothy grass:
- Phleum pratense subsp. pratense: This type is larger, growing up to 150 centimeters (59 inches) tall. It is found in many places and is native to the Mediterranean region.
- Phleum pratense subsp. bertolonii: This type is smaller, growing up to 70 centimeters (27.5 inches) tall. It prefers calcareous (lime-rich) grasslands.
How Timothy Grass is Used
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Timothy grass was brought to North America by early settlers without meaning to. The first time it was written about was in 1711 by John Hurd, who saw it growing in New Hampshire. He called it "hurd grass." However, around 1720, a farmer named Timothy Hanson started to encourage people to grow it for hay. Since then, the grass has been known by his name. Today, Timothy grass grows naturally across most of the United States and Canada.
Timothy Grass as Animal Feed
Timothy grass is often grown to feed cattle. It is especially popular as hay for horses. It has a lot of fiber, especially if it's cut later in the season. If it's cut too early, it can be a bit tough and animals might not like it as much. It is a standard part of good quality hay mixes and provides excellent nutrition for horses.
Timothy hay is a very important food for pet rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus. It often makes up most of what they eat. Timothy hay is full of long fibers, and its rough texture helps to wear down their teeth. This keeps their teeth and jaws healthy.
Other Uses for Timothy Grass
Some caterpillars eat Timothy grass, such as the Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) and the marbled white (Melanargia galathea) butterflies. You can also find it growing along roadsides and in old fields, but it usually needs soil that has plenty of nutrients.
The pollen from Timothy grass is a common cause of hay fever (allergies). Recently, small amounts of its pollen have been used in a new hay fever vaccine called Grazax. This vaccine helps to train the body's immune system so it doesn't react to pollen anymore.
Timothy plants stay alive through the winter. The dead, straw-colored flower stems might remain for a short time. You can recognize them by their unique spike-like flower heads.
How to Tell Timothy Grass Apart from Other Grasses
It's easy to mix up Timothy grass with meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis). Here's how to tell them apart:
- Timothy grass flowers later, from June to August. Meadow foxtail flowers earlier, from April to June.
- The small flower parts (called spikelets) of Timothy grass look like two small horns arranged in a cylinder shape. Meadow foxtail has a soft, single bristle (called an awn).
Purple-stem cat's-tail (Phleum phleoides) prefers lighter soils and grows on chalk downland.
Mountain timothy (Phleum alpinum) grows in high places, above 1,829 meters (6,000 feet). A "wild Timothy" was found in Yosemite when it was discovered, but it might have actually been a type of foxtail.
Timothy canary grass (Phalaris angusta) looks similar because it also has a cylindrical flower head. However, this type of grass is harmful to livestock.
Images for kids
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Close-up of flower head showing purple stamen (3 per floret) and feathery stigma (2 per floret)
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Ligule is short and blunt
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Showing bulbous base and brown leaf sheaths
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Seeds
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Close-up of flower head showing hornlike spikelets
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Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) spikelet
See also
In Spanish: Phleum pratense para niños
