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Words: 486 Copyright: 2005 Marilyn Pokorney
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If you have dogs, keep foxtail out of your lawn!
Foxtail is a common annual grass usually considered a weed. It grows one to three feet tall, with branching and some spreading at ground level. Leaf blades are 4 to 15 inches long. Flower heads are dense spikes with yellow to reddish, green or purplish bristles. As foxtail matures, seeds are formed at top of stalk. The bushy seeds are what gives plant name of "foxtail".
When mature, seeds detach easily from plant. This is natures way of making sure that plant reproduces. The seeds easily cling to clothing, fur, and hair. The seeds always move forward thus penetrating skin.
The seeds found in ears, eyes and nose are very serious and can become life threatening. But no body part is immune. The seeds have been found in urethra, vagina, anal glands, brain, and spinal cord. In one case a veterinarian found seed in lung but original site of entry was paw. The seeds also gain entry through open wounds.
