California oatgrass facts for kids

Quick facts for kids California oatgrass
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Danthonia
Species:	D. californica
Binomial name
Danthonia californica Bolander
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Synonyms
Danthonia americana

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Danthonia californica is a type of grass often called California oatgrass. This plant naturally grows in two different parts of the Americas. You can find it in western North America, from California all the way to Saskatchewan in Canada. It also grows far away in Chile, a country in South America.

Meet California Oatgrass

California oatgrass is a special kind of grass that grows in clumps. It stands up straight and can reach almost a meter (about 3 feet) tall. Because it's a "perennial" plant, it lives for many years, not just one season. It's also a "bunch grass," which means it grows in a tight group or clump.

What Does It Look Like?

The leaves of California oatgrass are flat and short. They can be either smooth or a bit hairy. The plant has a part called an inflorescence, which is like a flower cluster. This cluster holds small groups of tiny flowers, called spikelets. Each spikelet can have up to eight very small flowers, known as florets.

Where Does It Grow?

This grass loves places that are a bit wet. You'll often find it growing in thin forests or open meadows. In the coastal prairies of western North America, it often grows alongside other native grasses. Some of its grass friends include Festuca idahoensis, Deschampsia caespitosa, and Nassella pulchra.