Nassella lepida
Nassella lepida | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Genus: | Nassella |
Species: | N. lepida |
Binomial name | |
Nassella lepida (Hitchc.) Barkworth | |
Synonyms | |
Stipa lepida |
Nassella lepida (syn. Stipa lepida) is a species of grass known by the common names foothill needlegrass,[1][2] foothills nassella,[3] foothill stipa, small-flowered stipa, small-flowered needlegrass, and smallflower tussockgrass.[4] It is native to California in the United States, where it occurs as far north as Humboldt County,[4] and its range extends into Baja California.[2]
This is a perennial bunchgrass growing up to a meter tall. The flat or rolled leaf blades are up to 23 centimeters long. The panicle is up to 55 centimeters long and has branches bearing up to 6 spikelets each The spikelet has an awn up to 4.6[2] to 5.5[3] centimeters long.
This grass grows in chaparral and grassland habitat.[2] It can also be found in coastal sage scrub and coastal prairie.[4]
This species and several others were recently transferred from genus Stipa into Nassella, mainly on the basis of their "strongly convolute lemmas". Genetic evidence supports the transfer.[3]
This species may hybridize with Nassella pulchra.[3]
References
- ↑ Nassella lepida. USDA PLANTS Profile.
- 1 2 3 4 Nassella lepida. The Jepson Manual.
- 1 2 3 4 Barkworth, M. Nassella lepida. In: Barkworth et al. (eds.), Grass Manual. Flora of North America.
- 1 2 3 Calflora. 2013. Nassella lepida. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database.
External links
- Calflora Database: Stipa lepida (foothill needle grass)
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Stipa lepida
- USDA Plants Profile for Nassella lepida (foothill needlegrass)
- Stipa lepida — UC Photos gallery