Squirreltail

Also known as: bottlebrush squirreltail

Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey subsp. elymoides

[=Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) J.G. Sm. var. brevifolium (J.G. Sm.) Hitchc. ]

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squirreltail

Morphology

Culm: Stiff, erect, hollow, and smooth.
Blades: Flat or rolled inward, narrow, often stiff and ascending, 2 to 8 inches long, about 1/10 inch wide, glabrous or lightly hairy, pronounced ridges above.
Sheath: Open margins, glabrous to hairy.
Ligule: Short, membranous, collar-shaped, irregularly notched; auricles prominent, often purplish.
Inflorescence: Spikes, dense, bristly, 3 to 6 inches long (excluding awns), terminal, sometimes partially enclosed in upper sheaths.
Spikelets: 1-3, on alternating sides at each node, 2-6-flowered; glumes and lemmas with rough awns 1 to 3.5 inches long.

Ecology

Habitat: Found on dry prairie uplands, pastures, roadsides, and waste ground.
Distribution: Occurs in the west third of Kansas.

Practical Information

Forage Value: Squirreltail has little forage value for livestock or wildlife.

Additional Notes

Comments

Tufted. The awns spread wide when mature, giving the inflorescence the appearance of a bottlebrush. The awns can cause injury to the ears, noses, and mouths of livestock.

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.

Scientific Name: Sitanion hystrix

Full Citation: Sitanion hystrix J.G. Sm.

Subspecies/Varieties:

var. brevifolium Hitchc.

Quick Facts

Plant Type: Grass
Family: Poaceae - Grass Family
Life Span: Perennial
Height: 6 to 24 inches tall
Last Updated: 2007-09-09

Flowering Period

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: May, June, July