Aegilops neglecta
Three-awned goat grass
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Aegilops neglecta (Three-awned goat grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by inflated spikelets and spike falling as whole unit.
Three-awned goat grass is a naturalized annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, and Sacramento Valley in disturbed fields and roadsides at elevations of 30 to 800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this grass produces pale tan to light green spikelets with distinctive long awns up to 5 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 25 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms dense clusters in open disturbed areas. Its leaf blades are 2 to 8 centimeters long, 3 to 4 millimeters wide, with long hairs and ciliate margins that give the plant a delicate, hairy appearance. The plant's unique spikelets fall as a whole at maturity, with laterally compressed fertile spikelets that are slightly inflated or urn-shaped.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are inflated spikelets and spike falling as whole unit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed fields, roadsides
Elevation: 30-800 m
Outside California: to Washington, native to Mediterranean, western Asia
Bloom period
Aegilops neglecta blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Taeniatherum: Aegilops has 2-5 florets per spikelet; Taeniatherum has 2 florets with all parts awned.; vs Elymus: Aegilops has awned glumes but awnless lemmas; Elymus has awned lemmas.; vs Stenotaphrum: Aegilops is annual and tufted; Stenotaphrum is perennial with thick stolons.; vs Scribneria: Aegilops has awned glumes; Scribneria glumes are awnless.; vs Parapholis: Aegilops has prominent bristles on glumes; Parapholis completely lacks awns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aegilops neglecta native to California?
No. Aegilops neglecta is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Aegilops neglecta bloom?
Aegilops neglecta blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Aegilops neglecta belong to?
Aegilops neglecta is in the Poaceae family, genus Aegilops.
What habitat does Aegilops neglecta grow in?
Aegilops neglecta grows in Disturbed fields, roadsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.