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version Natural History As a dog owner I have noticed that small hitchhikers of the plant kind seem determined to attach themselves to my dog's various body parts, like paws or the soft inner snout. Some of these hitchhikers are merely a nuisance, dropping onto floors and furniture, but others can create serious health problems and even surgery. Hordeum brachyantherum 
I'm talking about the grass sometimes called
"Speargrass". There are many types of grass that could fit into this general
category. These grasses share similar characteristics, particularly the
long awns. An awn is a long, stiff, sometimes-barbed, projection at the
top end of the grass seed. The part of the grass seed that accomplishes
the initial hook can either be the awn or the "callus" -- a hard projection
at the base of the grass floret that attaches the grass seed to the stem.
The long, narrow grass seeds are dispersed by snagging on a moving object.
This may sound harmless enough, except that if snagged on an animal and
not detected, the seed moves along the hair toward the skin and the callus
can cause a lesion and work its way into the soft tissue: once there, the
grass can cause infection in the animal and may have to be removed surgically.
The species of Speargrass encountered largely depends on the region in which it is found. In the Interior of British Columbia, Speargrass can refer to Needle-and-Thread grasses (Stipa comata), Squirreltail Grass (Elymus elymoides) and Three-awn Grass (Aristida longiseta). Needle-and-Thread Grass has long, twisted awns that may reach up to 15 cm long. Three-awn Grass is as formidable as it sounds: the awn splits into three long points, and it has a hard dartlike callus. Squirreltail has a very dense inflorescence due to a doubling of the number of seeds at each node. These native grasses are usually found on dry, rocky grassland sites at low to mid-elevations. Interior First Nation's children played games with Needle-and-Thread Grass, throwing them as darts. Bromus sterilis 
Elsewhere in British Columbia, Speargrass is
most likely to be one of two types: low-growing long-awned Bromes (Bromus
tectorum, Bromus rigidus or Bromus sterilis) or Wild barley.
All three of the Bromes have a droopy, long-awned, but not dense inflorescence,
and are weedy, introduced species common in Southern British Columbia. The
low Brome grasses grow along the edges of fields, in disturbed sites or
along beach and lake edges. Wild Barley or Foxtail (Hordeum brachyantherum
or Hordeum jubatum) are weedy native species with a dense, bristly
inflorescence. The long-barbed bristles originate at the base of the grass
seed and are in addition to the long awns on the seed cover and hard callus.
It is a very prickly-looking grass seed. When mature Barley is picked, the
stem often falls apart and the grass seeds look like feathery darts (some
people call them "flea darts"). The Barleys grow in a wide range of sites
from moist meadows, ditches and marsh edges to disturbed urban settings.
Hordeum
jubatum 
For veterinarians, long-awned grasses are a
common problem, especially when they are in seed. What can pet owners do
to prevent problems? In the late summer when grass seeds "head up" or appear
ripe, it is wise to refrain from walking in long grass. Stick to the trails
and walk with your pet on a leash. A good rule of thumb is, if you have
grass seed in your socks after a walk your dog likely has seed on/in its
coat. Check your pet's paws regularly from August to November for signs
of lesions or infection; and keep "feathering" short. If you do notice a
swelling or cystlike lump on your pet's body, I recommend you take your
pet to the vet at once.
Although this is something that deserves your attention as a pet owner, if you follow the advice above this should not deter you from enjoying the outdoors with your pet! The author wishes to thank the following Veterinary Clinics for contributing advice and specimens: Hillside Veterinary Hospital Ltd Juan de Fuca Veterinary Clinic Lakehill Pet Clinic Ltd Saseenos Veterinary Services
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