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Nassella pulchra

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Purple Needlegrass














Scientific classification













Kingdom:


Plantae











(unranked):


Angiosperms




















(unranked):


Monocots














(unranked):


Commelinids





Order:


Poales




















Family:


Poaceae
















Genus:


Nassella






















Species:


N. pulchra













Binomial name




Nassella pulchra





































Synonyms












Nassella pulchra, basionym Stipa pulchra, is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass.[3] It is native to California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain ranges, as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Baja California.

It grows in many types of local habitat, including grassland, chaparral, and oak woodland. It grows well on clay and serpentine soils.[4]




Description


Nassella pulchra is a perennial bunch grass producing tufts of erect, unbranched stems up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall. The extensive root system can reach 20 feet (6.1 m) deep into the soil, making the grass more tolerant of drought.[5]

The open, nodding inflorescence is up to 60 centimeters long and has many branches bearing spikelets.

The plant produces copious seed, up to 227 pounds per acre in dense stands.[4] The pointed fruit is purple-tinged when young and has an awn up to 10 centimeters long which is twisted and bent twice.[6][7] The shape of the seed helps it self-bury.[4]



Uses


This grass is the preferred material utilized by the California Indian Basket Weavers for teaching children the art of basket weaving.[8]



State grass


Purple needlegrass became the California State Grass in 2004.[9] It is considered a symbol of the state because it is the most widespread native California grass, it supported Native American groups as well as Mexican ranchers, and it helps suppress invasive plant species and support native oaks.[9]
It also helps prevent soil erosion by establishing a large, fibrous root system which holds the soil in place.



See also



References




    

  1. ^  N. pulchra was published in Taxon; Official News Bulletin of the International Society for Plant Taxonomy, 39(4): 611. 1990. Utrecht, The Netherlands. "Plant Name Details for Nassella pulchra". IPNI. Retrieved August 25, 2010. Basionym to Stipa pulchra

    2. 

  2. ^  The basionym to N. pulchra, Stipa pulchra, was first described and published in American Journal of Botany, 1915, ii. 301. Lancaster, Penn. "Plant Name Details for Stipa pulchra". IPNI. Retrieved August 25, 2010. Notes: U.S.A. (Calif.)

    3. 

  3. ^ "Nassella pulchra". ITIS.

    4. 

  4. ^ a b c US Forest Service Fire Ecology

    5. 

  5. ^ California Native Perennial Grasses. Hastings Natural History Reservation.

    6. 

  6. ^ Jepson Manual Treatment

    7. 

  7. ^ Grass Manual Treatment

    8. 

  8. ^ Tolay Lake Park: Natural and Cultural History

    9. 

  9. ^ a b California State Grass

    10. 












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