What is "cynosurus cristatus"

Dog's-tail grass \Dog's"-tail grass`\, n. (Bot.) A hardy species of British grass ( Cynosurus cristatus) which abounds in grass lands, and is well suited for making straw plait; -- called also goldseed.

Cynosurus cristatus, Crested dog's-tail, is a short-lived perennial grass in the family Poaceae, characterised by a seed head that is flat on one side. It typically grows in species rich grassland. It thrives in a variety of soil types but avoids the acid and calcareous extremes of pH, and prefers well drained soils. It may be grown as an ornamental plant.

It is also known as (French) and (German, meaning meadow comb-grass). The Latin Cynosurus cristatus means 'addled crested or tufted'.