Eriocoma parishii

Stipa parishii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
(unranked):	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Stipa
Species:	S. parishii
Binomial name
Stipa parishii Vasey
Synonyms
Stipa parishii var. parishii TJM2 Achnatherum parishii (Vasey) Barkworth Stipa coronata var. depauperata (M.E. Jones) Hitchc

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.

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.

See also

• Bunchgrasses of North America
• Native grasses of California

External links

• Jepson Manual Treatment
• USDA Plants Profile
• Grass Manual Treatment
• Photo gallery