{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox |image = Elymus elymoides NPS-1.jpg |status = G5 |status_system = TNC |status_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.148156/Elymus_elymoides |website=explorer.natureserve.org |access-date=27 April 2023}}</ref> |genus = Elymus |species = elymoides |authority = (Raf.) Swezey |synonyms = ''Sitanion hystrix'' }}
'''''Elymus elymoides''''' is a species of wild rye known by the common name '''squirreltail'''. This grass is native to central and western North America.
thumb|right|''Elymus elymoides'' early-season spike close
==Description== ''Elymus elymoides'' is a perennial bunch grass growing to around {{convert|0.5|m|ft|abbr=off|frac=2}} in height. Its erect solid stems have flat or rolled leaf blades. The inflorescence is up to {{convert|15|cm|abbr=off|frac=4}} long and somewhat stiff and erect, with spikelets 1 or 2 cm long not counting the awn, which may be {{Convert|9|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} long and sticks straight out at maturity, making the inflorescence look like a bottlebrush, and aiding wind dispersal of the seeds. In contrast, the early season spike is compact and reddish.<ref>{{cite book |author=Cathy Rose, Stephen Ingram |title= Rock Creek Wildflowers |year=2015 |publisher=California Native Plant Society Press}}</ref>
== Subspecies == Subspecies include: *''E. e.'' ssp. ''brevifolius'' - widespread *''E. e.'' ssp. ''californicus'' - occurs in the western half of the species range *''E. e.'' ssp. ''elymoides'' - widespread *''E. e.'' ssp. ''hordeoides'' - limited mostly to the Pacific Northwest
== Distribution and habitat == The species is native to most of North America west of the Mississippi River and occurs in a number of ecosystems, from the alpine zone to desert sage scrub to valley grassland.
== Ecology == thumb|Young ''E. elymoides'' clump This grass is considered very good forage for sheep. It is best for grazing during the winter, when it is small and green. It becomes less palatable to livestock when its awns grow long and sharp at maturity. thumb|Aged ''E. elymoides'' clumpEvolving 55 million years ago, members of Poaceae produce wheat, rice, and barley cereal grains. ''Elymus elymoides'' is a specific type of wild rye that experiences competitive forces when introduced to invasive species, such as cheat grass (''Bromus tectorum''). ''E. elymoides'' experiences a decrease in fitness when growing concurrently with ''B. tectorum'', leading to natural selection acting negatively on ''E. elymoides''. This is perhaps best seen in the Great Basin, as the dry environment makes water a limiting resource, resulting in competition over it. ''B. tectorum''<nowiki/>'s advantages may be due to its ability to re-engineer that particular ecosystem's scarce water supply.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ferguson |first1=Scot D. |last2=Leger |first2=Elizabeth A. |last3=Li |first3=Jun |last4=Nowak |first4=Robert S. |year=2015 |title=Natural selection favors root investment in native grasses during restoration of invaded fields |journal=Journal of Arid Environments |volume=116 |pages=11–17 |bibcode=2015JArEn.116...11F |doi=10.1016/j.jaridenv.2015.01.009}}</ref> ''B. tectorum'' affects ''E. multisetus'' similarly, indicating that the trait causing decreased fitness is shared among the entire genus ''Elymus''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Perkins |first1=L. |last2=Hatfield |first2=G. |year=2014 |title=Competition, legacy, and priority and the success of three invasive species |journal=Biological Invasions |volume=16 |issue=12 |pages=2543–2550 |doi=10.1007/s10530-014-0684-3 |bibcode=2014BiInv..16.2543P |s2cid=14051865}}</ref>
Competition also occurs between ''E. elymoides'' and the invasive crested wheatgrass (''Agropyron cristatum''). When introduced, crested wheatgrass negatively affects mature ''E. elymoides'', despite being able to effectively compete at the seedling stage.<ref name=":0" />{{Verify source|date=March 2024}}
==Uses== The genus ''Elymus'' is a part of the Poaceae, the grass family, which is the most economically important plant family to modern human civilization.
If crested wheatgrass is used in rehabilitation or restoration of a site, then co-planting a native bunch grass, such as ''E. elymoides'', may be helpful in preventing a crested wheatgrass monoculture. Because ''E. elymoides'' populations decline when introduced to certain populations, squirreltail may benefit more from a monoculture setting.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | last1 = Nafus | first1 = A. | last2 = Svejcar | first2 = T. | last3 = Ganskopp | first3 = D. | last4 = Davies | first4 = K. | year = 2015 | title = Abundances of Coplanted Native Bunchgrasses and Crested Wheatgrass after 13 Years | journal = Rangeland Ecology & Management | volume = 68 | issue = 5| pages = 211–214 | doi = 10.1016/j.rama.2015.01.011 | s2cid = 56435195 }}</ref> This characteristic is supported by another species, ''Elymus nutas''. However, although it is successful as a monoculture food source, it results in a reduction of carbon transfer and decreased soil health when grown alone.<ref>Zhao, L., Chen, D., Zhao, N., Li, Q., Cheng, Q., Luo, C., . . . Zhao, X. (2015). Responses of carbon transfer, partitioning, and residence time to land use in the plant–soil system of an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. ''Biol Fertil Soils Biology and Fertility of Soils'', 781-790. Retrieved November 1, 2015.</ref> To preserve a prosperous ''Elymus elymoides'' food source, one must take into consideration its effects on the soil when grown alone, and its responses to competitive forces if grown with other plants.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons-inline|italic=1}} *{{Wikispecies-inline|Elymus elymoides|''Elymus elymoides''}} *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8738,8964,8968,8968 Jepson Manual Treatment: ''Elymus elymoides''] *[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Elymus+elymoides ''Elymus elymoides'' — U.C. Photo gallery]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5368480}}
{{Clear}}
elymoides Category:Bunchgrasses of North America Category:Grasses of the United States Category:Grasses of Canada Category:Native grasses of the Great Plains region Category:Native grasses of California Category:Native grasses of Nebraska Category:Native grasses of Oklahoma Category:Native grasses of Texas Category:Flora of Western Canada Category:Flora of the Northwestern United States Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States Category:North American desert flora Category:Flora of the Great Basin Category:Flora of the California desert regions Category:Flora of the Sonoran Deserts Category:Flora of Arizona Category:Flora of Colorado Category:Flora of Nevada Category:Flora of New Mexico Category:Flora of Utah Category:Flora of Wyoming Category:Flora of the Cascade Range Category:Flora of the Klamath Mountains Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Category:Natural history of the Mojave Desert Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Category:Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status