Elymus elymoides var. elymoides
Squirrel tail grass
Photo: parent species Elymus elymoides · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides (Squirrel tail grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by split glumes creating divided appearance.
Squirrel tail grass is a California native perennial found in San Francisco Bay, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin, and Desert regions in desert shrubland, often in disturbed sites at elevations of 250 to 4,300 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces distinctive spikes with awns that split into two or three divisions up to 8.5 centimeters long. Growing in dense tufts with slender stems 20 to 60 centimeters tall, it forms clumps in arid landscapes. Its narrow leaves are typically grayish-green, with long, bristle-like awns emerging from each spikelet that can extend up to 7.5 centimeters. The fertile florets produce elongated, twisted awns that give the plant its characteristic "squirrel tail" appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; key feature is split glumes creating divided appearance
Habitat and range
Habitat: Desert shrubland, often in disturbed sites
Elevation: 250-4300 m
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Napa, Modoc, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Tehama, Inyo, Madera, Los Angeles, Trinity, Lake, Amador, Tulare, Mendocino, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Yuba, Ventura, Mariposa
Outside California: to Washington, Wyoming, Colorado
Bloom period
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides 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. elymoides native to California?
Yes. Elymus elymoides var. elymoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus elymoides var. elymoides bloom?
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Elymus elymoides var. elymoides grow?
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Napa, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 250-4300 m.
What plant family does Elymus elymoides var. elymoides belong to?
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus elymoides var. elymoides grow in?
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides grows in Desert shrubland, often in disturbed sites.
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.