Myosurus minimus L.
Mousetail
Mousetail is a curious and easily missed native annual, a tiny member of the buttercup family that forms a small tuft rarely more than about 12cm high. It has a cluster of narrow, almost grass-like basal leaves, and its name comes from the seed-head: after the inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers fade, the receptacle elongates into a slender, tapering cylindrical spike that genuinely resembles a mouse's tail.
About
Mousetail is a curious and easily missed native annual, a tiny member of the buttercup family that forms a small tuft rarely more than about 12cm high. It has a cluster of narrow, almost grass-like basal leaves, and its name comes from the seed-head: after the inconspicuous greenish-yellow flowers fade, the receptacle elongates into a slender, tapering cylindrical spike that genuinely resembles a mouse's tail. It typically flowers in spring and early summer.
It is a plant of open, often bare and compacted ground that lies wet in winter but dries out in summer, such as gateways, trampled field corners, arable margins and the edges of ponds and tracks, mostly in the southern half of Britain. Because it depends on these disturbed, seasonally wet niches, it has declined with changes in farming and is now regarded as vulnerable. It is a specialist of conservation interest rather than a general meadow or border plant.
Also known as
Tiny Mousetail · eastern mousetail · least mousetail
Synonyms
Myosurus minimus lepturus · Myosurus minimus minimus · Myosurus minumus apus · Myosurus minumus interior · Myosurus minumus lepturus · Myosurus minumus major · Myosurus prenglii
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.