Elymus stebbinsii
Stebbins' wheat grass, Stebbins' Wheat Grass
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus stebbinsii (Stebbins' wheat grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by single spikelets per node and long anthers 4-7mm.
Stebbins' wheat grass is a California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in dry slopes, chaparral, and conifer forest at elevations below 2,230 meters. Flowering from June to July, this grass produces green to tan spikelets with delicate awns. Growing in tufted clumps 60 to 140 centimeters tall, sometimes spreading from short underground rhizomes, with sturdy upright stems. Its leaf blades are 2 to 6 millimeters wide, flat or slightly rolled, with tiny persistent auricles at the base of each leaf. The grass produces multiple spikelets 12 to 29 millimeters long, with 5 to 7 florets and awns ranging from absent to 28 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; key features are single spikelets per node and long anthers 4-7mm
Habitat and range
Habitat: dry slopes, chaparral, conifer forest
Elevation: < 2230 m
Bloom period
Elymus stebbinsii blooms Jun-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Hordeum: Elymus has rounded glume backs; Hordeum has all glumes narrow and bristle-like.; vs Leymus: Elymus has 2-8 spikelets per node; Leymus has just 1-2 spikelets per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Elymus is perennial with robust growth; Taeniatherum is a weedy annual with very long awns.; vs Lolium: Elymus shows multiple spikelets per node; Lolium has single spikelets edgewise to the stem.; vs Thinopyrum: Elymus has prominent auricles; Thinopyrum typically lacks auricles or has very small ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elymus stebbinsii native to California?
Yes. Elymus stebbinsii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus stebbinsii bloom?
Elymus stebbinsii blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Elymus stebbinsii belong to?
Elymus stebbinsii is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus stebbinsii grow in?
Elymus stebbinsii grows in dry slopes, chaparral, conifer forest.
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.