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Achnatherum speciosum
Achnatherum speciosum (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth
Desert Needlegrass, Desert Rice Grass, Spear Grass
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Stipa speciosa
USDA Symbol: ACSP12
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Desert rice grass or spear grass is a 1-2 ft., cool-season bunchgrass with an attractive, plumy appearance. The dense seedheads bear spikelets with a distinctive bent or twisted awn extending far beyond the grain.
From the Image Gallery
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , BrownBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , NV , OR , UTNative Distribution: CO & AZ to s. CA; also Mex.
Native Habitat: Plains; deserts; canyons; rocky hills; 2000-6000 ft.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rocky or sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: Good for dry banks and paths. Very drought tolerant.
Benefit
Use Food: Seeds gathered and consumed by Mono Lake Paiute people.Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Propagation
Description: Sow seed.Seed Treatment: No pretreatment necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. KatSearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Achnatherum speciosum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Achnatherum speciosum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Achnatherum speciosum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2022-10-31Research By: TWC Staff