Elymus elymoides

Squirreltail

Field view of Elymus elymodes, common name Squirreltail. There are no branches, so it is an awned spike, not a panicle.

On a Squirreltail spike all the "seeds" are directly attached to the central axis, the rachis.

Young Squirreltail inflorecences are sometimes red-tipped.

The Squirreltail plant usually fans out like this. The seedhead can be reddish.

You can see the spikelets ("seeds") attached directly on the main axis (rachis) here.

E. elymoides when dry shows how it got its common name. The stiff awns curl back on themselves like a squirrel tail.

One Squirreltail spikelet after drying and removing it from the rachis that held it. The seeds were already removed by the wind.

This spikelet shows its four florets above the two awn-shaped glumes that extend from the base.

These florets are separated so you can see the "seed" (actually the floret that holds the seed) at the base of the long awn.

How to Identify Squirreltail

 Elymus elymoides is a true spike, with its spikelets attached directly to the central axis (rachis) of the seedhead. It has largish seeds that you can see right from the field, nestled in the awns but still visible. The awns extend straight up, especially the terminal ones, and are long and stiff. The growth habit is a bunchgrass that spreads out like a fan. The seedhead is often red-tipped when young. Squirreltail is usually short in height, knee level and below.

Similar Species

 First of all, Elymus elymoides inflorescences are spikes, not panicles with branches like Bromus diandrus (seen here), which also has long, stiff, awns but whose spikelets occur on branches.
The other look-alike is Hordeum jubatum (Foxtail Barley), shown below. It is another actual spike (spikelets connected directly to the rachis) whose awns are long but relatively thin. The rachis bends in the breezes, unlike the stiffer Squirreltail. The Foxtail stems usually stand straight up rather than fanned-out like Squirreltail. Unlike squirreltail, in Foxtail Barley you cannot easily see the small seeds hidden in the forest of awns. But when the wind blows, the flexible white-in-the-sun seedheads of Foxtail bow downwind like a foamy seascape.