Calamagrostis ophitidis

Serpentine reed grass

Family: Poaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Serpentine reed grass is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in southern North Coast Ranges, northern Central Coast, and northern San Francisco Bay Area in meadows, seeps, grasslands, chaparral, and forests, typically on serpentine soils at elevations below 1,065 meters. Flowering from May to June, this grass produces pale, delicate flower clusters in narrow, dense inflorescences 8 to 15 centimeters long. Growing in clumped formations with stems 5.5 to 10 decimeters tall, it develops multiple nodes and often includes short rhizomes. Its narrow leaves, generally 2 to 4 millimeters wide, are characteristically inrolled and scabrous, with tiny white-opaque hooks between veins visible only under magnification. The plant's distinctive awned flowers feature glumes 6.5 to 8 millimeters long with a twisted, bent awn that may extend slightly beyond the glume tips.

Habitat: Meadows, seeps, grassland, chaparral, forest, generally on serpentine soils

Bloom period: May-Jun

Elevation: < 1065 m

Bioregions: s NCoRO, n CCo, n SnFrB.

California counties: Lake, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.