Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius
Squirrel tail grass
Photo: parent species Elymus elymoides · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius (Squirrel tail grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by awn length and glume characteristics from other varieties.
Squirrel tail grass is a California native perennial found in the southern Mojave Desert, Peninsular Ranges, Mojave Desert, White and Inyo Mountains, and western California in dry, open areas at elevations of 450 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces pale green to tan spikelets with distinctive long, bristle-like awns extending 5 to 12 centimeters from each spikelet. Growing with slender, upright stems 30 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms dense tufted clumps in arid landscapes. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically 10 to 20 centimeters long, with a pale green to grayish-green coloration. The plant's most distinctive feature is its dramatically long, thread-like awns that give the grass a feathery, delicate appearance when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinguished by awn length and glume characteristics from other varieties
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open areas
Elevation: 450-3500 m
Outside California: to Canada, Great Plains, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Hordeum: Elymus has rounded glume backs; Hordeum has all glumes narrow and bristle-like.; vs Leymus: Elymus has 2-8 spikelets per node; Leymus has just 1-2 spikelets per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Elymus is perennial with robust growth; Taeniatherum is a weedy annual with very long awns.; vs Lolium: Elymus shows multiple spikelets per node; Lolium has single spikelets edgewise to the stem.; vs Thinopyrum: Elymus has prominent auricles; Thinopyrum typically lacks auricles or has very small ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius native to California?
Yes. Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius bloom?
Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius belong to?
Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius grow in?
Elymus elymoides var. brevifolius grows in Dry, open areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.