Sierra false needlegrass facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra false needlegrass |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ptilagrostis
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| Species: |
kingii
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| Synonyms | |
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Oryzopsis kingii |
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Ptilagrostis kingii is a type of grass often called Sierra false needlegrass or King's ricegrass. This special plant only grows in one place: the high Sierra Nevada mountains in California. You can find it in mountain meadows and next to streams in very cool places, like subalpine and alpine climates. These are areas high up where it's cold, even in summer!
What is Sierra False Needlegrass?
This grass is a bunchgrass, which means it grows in a clump or "tuft" instead of spreading out. It's also a perennial, so it lives for more than two years and comes back each growing season.
How Does It Look?
Sierra false needlegrass usually grows to be about 20 to 40 centimeters tall. That's roughly the length of a standard ruler, or a bit more! Its leaves are thin and often curl up.
Flowers and Seeds
The plant's flowers grow on a narrow stalk called an inflorescence. This stalk has a few straight branches. Along these branches, you'll find small parts called spikelets. Each spikelet has a long, bristle-like part called an awn. This awn can be up to 1.4 centimeters long and might even have a little bend in it. These awns help the seeds spread, sometimes by catching on animal fur.
