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]
| Nassella lepida | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Nassella |
| Species: | N. lepida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nassella lepida (Hitchc.) Barkworth
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Stipa lepida | |
Distribution edit
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]
Description edit
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 edit
- ^ Nassella lepida. USDA PLANTS Profile.
- ^ a b c d Nassella lepida. The Jepson Manual.
- ^ a b c d Barkworth, M. Nassella lepida. In: Barkworth et al. (eds.), Grass Manual. Flora of North America.
- ^ a b c Calflora. 2013. Nassella lepida. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database.