Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides
Needle grama
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides (Needle grama) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by deciduous vs persistent branches.
Needle grama is a California native annual grass found in eastern Peninsular Ranges, eastern Mojave Desert, and Sonoran Desert in dry, open sandy to rocky slopes, scrub, and woodland habitats at elevations below 1,800 meters. Flowering throughout the year, this plant produces small, delicate grass flowers in pendulous branches that are light tan to green. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 5 to 35 centimeters tall, it has a characteristic sprawling growth habit. Its narrow leaves are less than 7 centimeters long and less than 2 millimeters wide, forming sparse, fine blades. The grass produces distinctive branching seed heads with 4 to 16 pendulous branches that detach when mature, each carrying 1 to 4 small spikelets.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key feature is deciduous vs persistent branches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open, sandy to rocky slopes, flats, washes, disturbed sites, scrub, woodland
Elevation: < 1800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego
Outside California: to Utah, Texas, southern Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Bouteloua has one-sided comb-like spikes; Cenchrus has spiny burs around the spikelets.; vs Melica: Bouteloua has spikelets on one side only; Melica has spikelets all around the branches.; vs Avena: Bouteloua has tiny comb-like spikes; Avena has large, dangling spikelets in open clusters.; vs Ehrharta: Bouteloua has 3-veined lemmas; Ehrharta has hardened sterile lemmas below the fertile one.; vs Hordeum: Bouteloua has one-sided brush spikes; Hordeum has cylindrical spikes with bristly glumes all around.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides native to California?
Yes. Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides bloom?
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides blooms All year.
Where in California does Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides grow?
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides occurs in San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, at elevations of < 1800 m.
What plant family does Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides belong to?
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides is in the Poaceae family, genus Bouteloua.
What habitat does Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides grow in?
Bouteloua aristidoides var. aristidoides grows in Dry, open, sandy to rocky slopes, flats, washes, disturbed sites, scrub, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.