Elymus elymoides var. californicus
Squirrel tail grass
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus elymoides var. californicus (Squirrel tail grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by shorter awns and sterile basal floret.
Squirrel tail grass is a California native perennial grass found in the Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, southern Great Basin, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and northeastern Sierra Nevada in dry, open areas at elevations of 275 to 4,200 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces pale green to straw-colored spikelets with distinctive long awns extending 25 to 70 millimeters. Growing with erect stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms dense, bristly tufts that become increasingly pale and straw-like as the season progresses. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically 3 to 10 millimeters wide, with a rough texture that contributes to its distinctive appearance. The plant's most notable feature is its long, hair-like awns that give the grass a distinctively wild and windswept look in dry mountain landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; distinguished by shorter awns and sterile basal floret
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open areas
Elevation: 275-4200 m
California counties: Mono, Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Modoc, Lassen, Kern, Fresno, Tuolumne, Trinity, Siskiyou, Humboldt, San Diego, San Bernardino, Inyo, Alpine, Los Angeles, Nevada
Outside California: western North America
Bloom period
Elymus elymoides var. californicus 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. californicus native to California?
Yes. Elymus elymoides var. californicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus elymoides var. californicus bloom?
Elymus elymoides var. californicus blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Elymus elymoides var. californicus grow?
Elymus elymoides var. californicus occurs in Mono, Butte, Sierra, Plumas, Modoc, Lassen, Kern, Fresno and other counties, at elevations of 275-4200 m.
What plant family does Elymus elymoides var. californicus belong to?
Elymus elymoides var. californicus is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus elymoides var. californicus grow in?
Elymus elymoides var. californicus grows in Dry, open areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.