Timothy (Phleum pratense) is a species of perennial grass native to most of Europe and northern and western Asia. It is also known as timothy-grass, meadow cat's-tail or common cat's-tail. It is a member of the genus Phleum, which consists of 17 species of annual and perennial grasses.
It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, a British farmer and agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the southern United States in the early 18th century. Upon his recommendation it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in the mid-18th century.
Timothy has now become naturalised throughout most of North America, eastern Asia, southern South America, and Australasia.
