Agrostis humilis
Mountain bent grass, mountain bent grass, mountain bent grass
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Agrostis humilis (Mountain bent grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by high elevation habitat, cespitose habit, awnless 5-veined lemmas.
Mountain bent grass is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and central Sierra Nevada Mountains in subalpine and alpine meadows and slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from July to August, this plant produces green to purple flowers in delicate, open panicles 1.5 to 14 centimeters long. Growing in dense tufts 5 to 50 centimeters tall with erect to ascending stems, it forms compact clusters with fine, wiry growth. Its mostly basal leaves are narrow, 2 to 15 centimeters long and 1 to 4 millimeters wide, ranging from flat to slightly folded. The tiny flowers feature minute callus hairs and delicate green to purple glumes, creating a subtle, elegant grass-like appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; key features are high elevation habitat, cespitose habit, awnless 5-veined lemmas
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist to dry, subalpine or alpine meadows, slopes
Elevation: 1500-3350 m
California counties: Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, Siskiyou, Tehama, Tulare, San Bernardino, Tuolumne, Madera, Riverside, Shasta, Sierra
Outside California: to Alaska, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico
Bloom period
Agrostis humilis blooms Jul-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Oloptum: Oloptum has prominent bent awns; Agrostis awns are tiny or absent.; vs Holcus: Holcus has velvety-hairy spikelets; Agrostis spikelets are smooth and glossy.; vs Polypogon: Polypogon has dense bristly panicles; Agrostis panicles are airy and delicate.; vs Poa: Poa has boat-shaped lemmas with 5 veins; Agrostis lemmas are rounded with faint veins.; vs Festuca: Festuca has multiple flowers per spikelet; Agrostis has single-flowered spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agrostis humilis native to California?
Yes. Agrostis humilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Agrostis humilis bloom?
Agrostis humilis blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Agrostis humilis grow?
Agrostis humilis occurs in Alpine, Amador, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono and other counties, at elevations of 1500-3350 m.
What plant family does Agrostis humilis belong to?
Agrostis humilis is in the Poaceae family, genus Agrostis.
Is Agrostis humilis rare or endangered?
Agrostis humilis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.