Plant · GBIF taxon 5289693
yellow foxtail
Setaria pumilaAlso known as Yellow Bristle-grass, Pigeon Grass, Cattail Grass, Yellow Foxtail Grass
Yellow foxtail forms dense tufts of upright stems topped by soft, brush-like seed heads that shift from green to golden yellow as summer progresses. Native to Eurasia but now ubiquitous in disturbed soils worldwide, this warm-season grass thrives along roadsides, cultivated fields, and vacant lots. Its twisting leaf blades feature a ring of fine hairs at the sheath collar, helping distinguish it from similar turf weeds.
AnnualGrassesEurasian Native
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic
Predators
- Granivorous Birds
- Small Rodents
- Grazing Livestock
ThreatsHerbicide resistance, weed control management
HabitatsDisturbed soils, roadsides, lawns, agricultural fields, vacant lots
Life spanAnnual (1 season)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPoales
- FamilyPoaceae
- GenusSetaria
- SpeciesSetaria pumila
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Pollen can trigger hay fever, and dry seed awns can irritate dog paws and ears.
- Why it is dangerous
- Mature seed awns possess sharp, backward-pointing barbs that easily penetrate pet skin, ears, paws, and eyes, causing severe infection.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for dense, yellowish brush-like seed heads with stiff bristles that become brittle in late summer.
- What to do
- Keep dogs away from dry weeds in late summer, and inspect paws and ears after walks near field edges.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for a dense fringe of hairs where the leaf blade meets the sheath.
- Pet Safety: Keep dogs away from dry seed heads to prevent bristles from lodging in ears or paws.
- Control: Hand-pull young plants before yellow seed bristles mature and drop seeds.
Domesticated Crop STRONGlk7 / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Weed no rights reserved, uploaded by Carter Dorscht · cc0
Close Relative (c) Thomas Gyselinck, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Gyselinck · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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