Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia
Intermediate oat grass, Intermediate Oat Grass
Andrey Zharkikh from Salt Lake City, USA (via Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia (Intermediate oat grass) is a native California perennial in the Poaceae family, recognized by compact erect inflorescence and glabrous leaves.
Intermediate oat grass is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California coast ranges, high Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and North Coast Ranges in meadows, bogs, and moist forest habitats at elevations of 1,460 to 3,450 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces delicate pale flowers in compact narrow clusters 2 to 5 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms dense tufted clumps with primarily basal leaves. Its narrow leaves are ascending, 5 to 10 centimeters long, slightly rolled inward, and generally glabrous except near the leaf base. Each spikelet features distinctive hairy lemmas with small teeth and an elegant 5 to 9 millimeter awn.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by compact erect inflorescence and glabrous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, bogs, damp banks, moist forest
Elevation: 1460-3450 m
Outside California: to Alaska, eastern Canada, western United States
Bloom period
Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia blooms Jul-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Avena: Danthonia glumes wrap tightly around florets; Avena glumes are shorter, leaving florets exposed.; vs Bromus: Danthonia glumes are longer than florets; Bromus glumes are shorter than florets.; vs Nassella: Danthonia has multiple florets per spikelet; Nassella has single florets with twisted awns.; vs Lolium: Danthonia spikelets have 2 prominent glumes; Lolium spikelets sit edgewise with only 1 visible glume.; vs Carex: Danthonia is a grass with open flower clusters; Carex is a sedge with flowers in dense spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia native to California?
Yes. Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia bloom?
Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia blooms Jul-Aug.
What plant family does Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia belong to?
Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia is in the Poaceae family, genus Danthonia.
What habitat does Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia grow in?
Danthonia intermedia subsp. intermedia grows in Meadows, bogs, damp banks, moist forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.