Ehrharta longiflora
Long-flowered veldt grass, annual veldt grass, Annual Veldt Grass
(c) Jon Sullivan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jon Sullivan · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Ehrharta longiflora (Long-flowered veldt grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by uniquely distinguished by prominent 2-20mm awns on sterile lemmas and annual habit.
Long-flowered veldt grass is a naturalized annual found in southern coastal California and the Peninsular Ranges in disturbed sites, often on sandy or loamy soils at elevations below 900 meters. Flowering from April to May, this grass produces pale green to white spikelets 8 to 18 millimeters long with delicate branching panicles. Growing 15 to 90 centimeters tall with erect or basally bent stems, it develops flat leaf blades 6 to 20 centimeters long that are slightly hairy. Its leaf sheaths are veined and keeled, with small ciliate auricles and a ligule 1 to 2.5 millimeters long. The sterile lemmas have distinctive awns 2 to 20 millimeters long, adding texture to its delicate grass structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; uniquely distinguished by prominent 2-20mm awns on sterile lemmas and annual habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed sites, often on sandy or loamy soils
Elevation: < 900 m
California counties: San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Yolo
Outside California: only occurrences in North America, native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Ehrharta longiflora blooms Apr-May.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
Frequently asked questions
Is Ehrharta longiflora native to California?
No. Ehrharta longiflora is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ehrharta longiflora bloom?
Ehrharta longiflora blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Ehrharta longiflora grow?
Ehrharta longiflora occurs in San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, Yolo, at elevations of < 900 m.
What plant family does Ehrharta longiflora belong to?
Ehrharta longiflora is in the Poaceae family, genus Ehrharta.
Is Ehrharta longiflora invasive in California?
Ehrharta longiflora is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
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.