This used to be a grass which I would see nearly every outing to the countryside in Cheshire but in recent years I have found it less and less. It likes wet places so the warmer and dryer springs and summers won't have suited it but I had to search for this excellent specimen. The flower heads are always blackish and look like a Foxtail and the stems first run parallel with the ground before ascending from a bend in the stem (or knee = geniculatus) to the flowering shoot.

It has been recorded from everywhere in the British Isles even though I see fewer of these plants these days.

LHS: Northwich 17th June 2005 RHS: Near River Mersey 3rd May 2007

Added on 17th June 2005, updated 22nd June 2008, updated Feb 26th 2010, updated 30th March 2013