General: Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) is a fairly common, upright grass that grows in individual clumps (bunches) in the deserts around Las Vegas. This is one of the medium-sized bunchgrasses, with leaves growing to several inches tall, and the flowering stalks growing to about 18-inches.

The flowering stalks are numerous and relatively long, standing high abouve the tuft of leaves. The flowering spikelets grow to about 2-cm long, not counting the awns. Initially, the flowers hug the flowering stalk and become red. By the time the seeds are ripe, the awns have grown to about 10-cm long and stick straight out from the flowering stalk, giving the appearance of a squirrel tail.

Squirreltail is an uncommon component of vegetation associations in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) and higher life zones.

Family: Grass (Poaceae).

Other Names:

Plant Form: Perennial grass. Grows in bunches.

Height: About 18 inches.

Stems: Round, solid, to about 18 inches.

Leaves:

Flowers: When the seeds are ripe, the inflorescence looks like a bottlebrush or a squirrel tail.

Seeds:

Habitat:

Elevation:

Distribution: Western US.

Comments: The "bottlebrush of seeds" can break free from the stem and roll across the landscape when wind blows, which spreads the seeds.