Timothy (grass)

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Timothy
Timothy grass.jpg
Habitus, ssp. pratense
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Phleum
Species:
P. pratense
Binomial name
Phleum pratense
L.
Synonyms [1]
    • Achnodonton bulbosum (Gouan) J.Woods
    • Phleum alpinum subsp. trabutii Litard. & Maire
    • Phleum bertolonii subsp. trabutii (Litard. & Maire) Kerguélen
    • Phleum brachystachyum (Salis) Gamisans, A.T.Romero & C.Morales
    • Phleum bulbosum Gouan
    • Phleum deckeri Roem. ex Trin.
    • Phleum fallax Janka
    • Phleum maximum Pryor
    • Phleum microstachyum Ruiz ex Nyman
    • Phleum nodosum L.
    • Phleum parnassicum Boiss. & Heldr. ex Nyman
    • Phleum pratense subsp. brachystachyum (Salis) Gamisans
    • Phleum pratense f. elongatum (Schur) Serb. & Nyár.
    • Phleum pratense f. fallax (Janka) Serb. & Nyár.
    • Phleum pratense subsp. microstachyum (Ruiz ex Nyman) Malag.
    • Phleum pratense subsp. nodosum (L.) Dumort.
    • Phleum pratense subsp. roshevitzii (Pavlov) Tzvelev
    • Phleum pratense var. stoloniferum (Host) Rchb.
    • Phleum pratense subsp. trabutii (Litard. & Maire) Kerguélen
    • Phleum pratense subsp. vulgare Asch. & Graebn.
    • Phleum roshevitzii Pavlov
    • Phleum stoloniferum Host
    • Phleum trabutii (Litard. & Maire) Rivas Mart., A.Asensi, Molero Mesa & F.Valle
    • Phleum tuberosum Panz. ex Trin.
    • Phleum villosum Opiz
    • Phleum vulgare Chase & Niles
    • Plantinia pratensis (L.) Bubani
    • Stelephuros pratensis (L.) Lunell

Timothy [2] (Phleum pratense) is an abundant perennial grass native to most of Europe except for the Mediterranean region. It is also known as timothy-grass, meadow cat's-tail or common cat's tail. [3] It is a member of the genus Phleum , consisting of about 15 species of annual and perennial grasses.

Contents

It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, an American farmer and agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the southern states in the early 18th century. [4] [5] [6] Upon his recommendation it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in the mid-18th century. [7]

Timothy can be confused with meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis) or purple-stem cat's-tail (Phleum phleoides).

Description

Timothy grows to 48–150 cm (19–59 in) tall, with leaves up to 43 cm (17 in) long and 1.3 cm (0.5 in) broad. The leaves are hairless, rolled rather than folded, and the lower sheaths turn dark brown.

It has no stolons or rhizomes, and no auricles.

The flowerhead is 70–152 mm (2.75–6 in) long and 6.4–12.7 mm (0.25–0.5 in) broad, with densely packed spikelets. It flowers from June until September. The stamen are pink.

The ligule is short and blunt.

It grows well in heavy soil, and is noted for its resistance to cold and drought, and thus ability to grow in dry upland or poor sandy soils. In pasture it tends to be overwhelmed by more competitive grasses. After cutting it grows slowly.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies:

Cultivation and uses

Inflorescence Timothee (Phleum pratense subsp. pratense).jpg
Inflorescence

Timothy was unintentionally introduced to North America by early settlers, and was first described in 1711 by John Hurd from plants growing in New Hampshire. Hurd named the grass "hurd grass" but a farmer named Timothy Hanson began to promote cultivation of it as a hay about 1720, and the grass has been known by its present name since then. Timothy has now become naturalized throughout most of the US and Canada.

It is commonly grown for cattle feed and, in particular, as hay for horses. It is relatively high in fiber, especially when cut late. It is considered a harsh, coarse grass little relished by livestock if cut earlier. It is considered part of the standard mix for grass hay and provides quality nutrition for horses. Timothy hay is a staple food for domestic pet rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus, often making up the bulk of their diet. Timothy hay is rich in long fiber and its abrasive texture helps to grind down the teeth, keeping both the teeth and jaw in good order.

Some caterpillars use it as a food plant, e.g. the Essex skipper (Thymelicus lineola) and the marbled white (Melanargia galathea). It also grows in roadsides and abandoned fields but generally requires nutrient-rich soils.

Plants persist through the winter. Dead, straw-colored flowering stems may persist, but only for a short time, and are recognized by the distinctive spike-like inflorescence.

Medical uses

Timothy grass pollen allergen extract (Phleum pratense)
Clinical data
Trade names Grazax, Grastek
AHFS/Drugs.com Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
License data
Routes of
administration
Sublingual
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
UNII

Timothy grass pollen allergen is used to treat hay fever. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Breeding objectives in timothy

Breeding programs for forage grasses and especially timothy have been focusing on the improvement of dry matter yield, resistance to disease, dry matter digestibility, and nutritional value, which depends on target species and environment. Due to high phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity in individual plants, and the polyploidy of many species, breeding programs for timothy is accompanied by some difficulties.[ citation needed ]

Confusion with other species

It is often confused with meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis). Timothy flowers later, from June until August, whereas meadow foxtail flowers from April until June. The spikelets of timothy are twin hornlike projections arranged in cylindrical panicles, whereas foxtail has a soft, single awn. [16]

Purple-stem cat's-tail (Phleum phleoides) prefers lighter soils and grows on chalk downland.

Mountain timothy (Phleum alpinum) grows above 1,800 m (6,000 feet). [17] A "wild Timothy" was found to grow in Yosemite at the time of its discovery but may have been a foxtail. [18] [19]

Timothy canary grass (Phalaris angusta), another species with a similar cylindrical panicle, is toxic to livestock.

Related Research Articles

<i>Alopecurus pratensis</i> Species of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae

Alopecurus pratensis, known as the meadow foxtail or the field meadow foxtail, is a perennial grass belonging to the grass family (Poaceae). It is native to Europe and Asia.

<i>Poa pratensis</i> Species of plant

Poa pratensis, commonly known as Kentucky bluegrass, smooth meadow-grass, or common meadow-grass, is a perennial species of grass native to practically all of Europe, North Asia and the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. It is a common and incredibly popular lawn grass in North America with the species being spread over all of the cool, humid parts of the United States, despite the fact that it is not native to North America. The Spanish Empire brought the seeds of Kentucky bluegrass to the New World in mixtures with other grasses. In its native range, Poa pratensis forms a valuable pasture plant, characteristic of well-drained, fertile soil. It is also used for making lawns in parks and gardens and has established itself as a common invasive weed across cool moist temperate climates like the Pacific Northwest and the Northeastern United States. When found on native grasslands in Canada, for example, it is considered an unwelcome exotic plant, and is indicative of a disturbed and degraded landscape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allergic rhinitis</span> Nasal inflammation due to allergens in the air

Allergic rhinitis, of which the seasonal type is called hay fever, is a type of inflammation in the nose that occurs when the immune system overreacts to allergens in the air. Signs and symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, itchy, and watery eyes, and swelling around the eyes. The fluid from the nose is usually clear. Symptom onset is often within minutes following allergen exposure, and can affect sleep and the ability to work or study. Some people may develop symptoms only during specific times of the year, often as a result of pollen exposure. Many people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis.

<i>Alopecurus</i> Genus of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae

Alopecurus, or foxtail grass, is a common and widespread genus of plants in the grass family. It is common across temperate and subtropical parts of Eurasia, northern Africa, and the Americas, as well as naturalized in Australia and on various islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small skipper</span> Species of butterfly

The small skipper is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essex skipper</span> Species of butterfly

Thymelicus lineola, known in Europe as the Essex skipper and in North America as the European skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foxtail (diaspore)</span> Dry spikelet or spikelet cluster of some grasses

A foxtail is a spikelet or cluster of a grass, that serves to disperse its seeds as a unit. Thus, the foxtail is a type of diaspore or plant dispersal unit. Some grasses that produce a foxtail are themselves called "foxtail", also "spear grass". They can become a health hazard for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals, and a nuisance for people.

<i>Alopecurus myosuroides</i> Species of grass

Alopecurus myosuroides is an annual grass, native to Eurasia, found in moist meadows, deciduous forests, and on cultivated and waste land. It is also known as slender meadow foxtail, black-grass, twitch grass, and black twitch.

<i>Phleum</i> Genus of grasses

Phleum (timothy) is a genus of annual and perennial plants in the grass family. The genus is native to Europe, Asia and north Africa, with one species also in North and South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Meadow, Cricklade</span>

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<i>Festuca pratensis</i> Species of grass

Festuca pratensis, the meadow fescue, is a perennial species of grass, which is often used as an ornamental grass in gardens, and is also an important forage crop.

<i>Poa trivialis</i> Species of grass

Poa trivialis, is a perennial plant regarded in the US as an ornamental plant. It is part of the grass family.

<i>Arrhenatherum elatius</i> Species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae

Arrhenatherum elatius is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae, commonly known as bulbous oat grass, false oat-grass, tall oat-grass, tall meadow oat, onion couch and tuber oat-grass. It is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. This bunchgrass is often used as an ornamental grass and is sometimes marketed as "cat grass".

British NVC community MG4 is one of the mesotrophic grassland communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of four such communities associated with well-drained permanent pastures and meadows.

<i>Bromus hordeaceus</i> Species of grass

Bromus hordeaceus, the soft brome, is an annual or biennial species of grass in the grass family (Poaceae). It is also known in North America as bull grass, soft cheat, and soft chess.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorpe Hay Meadow</span>

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<i>Phleum phleoides</i> Species of grass

Phleum phleoides is a perennial grass native to most of Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. Culms are erect and 10–70 centimetres (3.9–27.6 in) in height; leaf blades are 5–12 centimetres (2.0–4.7 in) long by 1–3.5 millimetres (0.039–0.138 in) wide.

<i>Danthonia compressa</i> Species of grass

Danthonia compressa is a species of grass known by the common names mountain oatgrass, flattened oatgrass, and slender oatgrass.

Sisyrinchium sarmentosum is a species of flowering plant in the iris family known by the common names mountain blue-eyed grass and pale blue-eyed-grass. It is native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, where it is known from a part of the Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon.

References

  1. "Phleum pratense". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  2. Clause 5.3.2.2.3 BS 7370-5[ full citation needed ]
  3. The Observer's Book of Grasses, Sedge and Rushes by Francis Rose, page 112, 1976, ISBN   0 7232 1533 2, published by Frederick Warne and Co.
  4. "Timothy Grass". The Louisville Daily Courier. July 9, 1859. p. 4. Retrieved September 20, 2015 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed., p. 1310.
  6. Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. "timothy grass".
  7. Reader's Digest Nature Lover's Library Wild Flowers of Britain, p. 430, published 1988
  8. "Phleum pratense subsp. pratense*". AusGrass2. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  9. "Prescription medicines: registration of new chemical entities in Australia, 2017". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 21 June 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  10. "Grazax standardised allergen extract of grass pollen from Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) 75,000 SQ-T sublingual tablets blister foil (267955)". Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. "Grastek- timothy grass pollen allergen extract tablet". DailyMed. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. Barber D, Rico P, Blanco C, Fernandez-Rivas M, Ibañez MD, Escribese MM (2019). "Grazax: a sublingual immunotherapy vaccine for Hay fever treatment: from concept to commercialization". Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 15 (12): 2887–2895. doi:10.1080/21645515.2019.1622976. PMC   6930101 . PMID   31157592.
  13. Scaparrotta A, Attanasi M, Petrosino MI, Di Filippo P, Di Pillo S, Chiarelli F (2015). "Critical appraisal of Timothy grass pollen extract Grazax in the management of allergic rhinitis". Drug Design, Development and Therapy. 9: 5897–909. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S70432 . PMC   4639524 . PMID   26604688.
  14. Kay AB (December 2007). "An extract of Timothy-grass pollen used as sublingual immunotherapy for summer hay fever". Drugs of Today. 43 (12): 841–8. doi:10.1358/dot.2007.43.12.1162079. PMID   18174969.
  15. Nelson HS (November 2014). "Oral/sublingual Phleum pretense grass tablet (Grazax/Grastek) to treat allergic rhinitis in the USA". Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 10 (11): 1437–51. doi:10.1586/1744666X.2014.963556. PMID   25340426. S2CID   23698482.
  16. bsbi.org.uk Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine ; description, retrieved 2010-12-1.
  17. Jepson Manual - Phleum alpinum
  18. Bunnell, Lafayette Houghton (1880). Discovery of Yosemite. Fleming H. Revell. p.  245.
  19. Scribner, F. Lampson, "Grasses of Mountain Meadows and Deer Parks" in Lazenby, William R. (1889). Proceedings of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. pp. 68–9.