Species S. alexandrae | Subfamily Chloridoideae Scientific name Swallenia Rank Genus | |
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Similar Grasses, Neostapfia, Allolepis, Brachyachne, Triraphis | ||
Swallenia is a rare genus of plants in the grass family, found only in Death Valley National Park, California.
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The only known species is Swallenia alexandrae, known by the common names Eureka dunegrass and Eureka Valley dune grass. This genus was named for American botanist Jason Richard Swallen (1903-1991).
Description
This is a rare plant endemic to Inyo County, California, where it is found on a single isolated dune system, the Eureka Valley Sand Dunes in the Eureka Valley of the Mojave Desert, within Death Valley National Park.
Description
Swallenia alexandrae is a coarse, tufted perennial grass which grows in sand from thick rhizomes. Its stiffly erect clums, sharp-leafed grass, and erect pale-colored panicle inflorescences are diagnostic.
Endangered status
This is a federally listed endangered species of the United States, and an IUCN listed Critically endangered species. The main threat to the species survival has been off-roading, which is no longer permitted in its habitat. Trespassing off-roaders and campers are still a threat to the five remaining occurrences.