Foxtail (diaspore)

For other uses, see Foxtail (disambiguation).
Hordeum murinum, a common source of foxtails in many areas

A foxtail is a spikelet or cluster of a grass, that serves to disperse its seeds as a unit. Thus, the foxtail is a type of diaspore or plant dispersal unit. Some grasses that produce a foxtail are themselves called "foxtail", also "spear grass". They can become a health hazard for dogs, cats, and other domestic animals,[1] and a nuisance for people.

  1. ^ "Protect your pet from the dangers of foxtails". SF SPCA. San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 9 May 2024.