Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta
Photo: parent species Calamagrostis stricta · (c) Zihao Wang, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta is a native California grass in the Poaceae family.
Tall reedgrass is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada and White and Inyo Mountains in conifer forests, meadows, and mountain slopes at elevations of 1,500 to 3,350 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces delicate, slender inflorescences with pale, translucent flower clusters 5 to 12 centimeters long. Growing with upright stems 20 to 90 centimeters tall, it forms dense clumps with generally inrolled leaf blades. Its leaves have narrow, tightly rolled blades with ligules 1 to 3.5 millimeters long, and smooth to slightly rough upper surfaces. The plant's fine, straight awns and 1 to 3 millimeter callus hairs give it a distinctive, delicate appearance in mountain grassland habitats.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, meadows, slopes
Elevation: 1500-3350 m
California counties: Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou, San Benito
Outside California: to Alaska, northeastern North America, Eurasia
Bloom period
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Leymus: Leymus has spike-like inflorescences; Calamagrostis has open, branching panicles.; vs Koeleria: Koeleria has dense spike-like panicles; Calamagrostis panicles are loose and open.; vs Holcus: Holcus has velvety-hairy spikelets; Calamagrostis has silky basal hairs only.; vs Muhlenbergia: Calamagrostis spikelets are 2-4mm with awns; Muhlenbergia often larger without prominent awns.; vs Spinifex: Spinifex forms spiny seed heads on beaches; Calamagrostis has soft panicles in mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta native to California?
Yes. Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta bloom?
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta grow?
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta occurs in Mono, Fresno, Inyo, Mendocino, El Dorado, Siskiyou, San Benito, at elevations of 1500-3350 m.
What plant family does Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta belong to?
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta is in the Poaceae family, genus Calamagrostis.
What habitat does Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta grow in?
Calamagrostis stricta subsp. stricta grows in Conifer forest, meadows, slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Calamagrostis arenaria subsp. arenaria — European beachgrass, maram grass
- Calamagrostis bolanderi — Bolander's reed grass
- Calamagrostis breviligulata
- Calamagrostis breviligulata subsp. breviligulata — American beachgrass
- Calamagrostis breweri — Short hair reed grass
- Calamagrostis canadensis — Bluejoint reedgrass
- Catabrosa aquatica subsp. aquatica — water whorlgrass
- Cenchrus echinatus — Southern sandbur
- Cenchrus longispinus — Mat sandbur
- Cenchrus sp. — Sandbur
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.