Kingdom Plantae Family Poaceae Scientific name Achnatherum parishii Rank Species | Order Poales Genus Stipa Higher classification Achnatherum | |
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Similar Achnatherum coronatum, Achnatherum aridum, Achnatherum, Grasses, Achnatherum lettermanii | ||
Stipa parishii, formerly classified as Achnatherum parishii, is a species of grass known by the common name Parish's needlegrass. The Jepson Manual 2nd edition (2012) reclassified the plant as Stipa parishii var. parishii.
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Distribution
The bunchgrass is native to western North America from southern California and Baja California, through Arizona and Nevada, to Utah, where it grows in many types of habitat, especially chaparral and other dry habitats. It is found from 900–2,700 metres (3,000–8,900 ft) in elevation. Locations include the Peninsular Ranges, Mojave Desert sky islands, southern Sierra Nevada and High Sierra, Inyo Mountains, White Mountains, and Great Basin Desert mountains.
Description
Stipa parishii is a perennial bunch grass which forms tight tufts of erect stems up to about 80 centimeters tall.
The inflorescence is up to 15 centimeters long and packed with densely hairy spikelets. Each spikelet has an awn up to about 3.5 centimeters long. It has a single kink in it, whereas the awns of many other Stipa species have two kinks.