Achnatherum latiglume facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Achnatherum latiglume |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Achnatherum |
| Species: |
A. latiglume
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| Binomial name | |
| Achnatherum latiglume (Swallen) Barkworth
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| Synonyms | |
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Stipa latiglumis |
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Achnatherum latiglume is a type of grass often called wide-glumed needlegrass or Sierra needlegrass. It's a special plant because it's a bunchgrass, meaning it grows in tight clumps.
Currently, experts at the Jepson Herbarium classify this plant as Stipa latiglumis.
This grass is only found in the mountainous parts of California. You can spot it growing in the meadows and pine forests of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It also grows in a few spots in the Transverse Ranges further south.
What is Wide-Glumed Needlegrass?
Achnatherum latiglume is a perennial bunchgrass. This means it lives for more than two years and grows in dense, upright clumps. Its stems can stand tall, reaching up to 110 centimeters (about 3.6 feet) high.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of this grass are very thin, like hairs, and are less than 3 millimeters wide.
The plant's flower cluster, called an inflorescence, can be up to 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) long. Each small flower part, known as a spikelet, is just over a centimeter long. It has a sharp point and a long, hairy bristle called an awn. This awn is about 4 centimeters long and has two distinct bends or kinks in it.
