Glyceria leptostachya
Narrow manna grass, Narrow Manna Grass
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Glyceria leptostachya (Narrow manna grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by truncate to rounded, crenate lemma tips diagnostic.
Narrow manna grass is a California native perennial found in northwestern California, the high Cascade Range, central Coast, and San Francisco Bay Area in freshwater marshes and lakes at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate grass-like inflorescences 20 to 40 centimeters long with narrow, cylindric spikelets. Growing with tall stems 1 to 1.5 meters high and 2 to 4 millimeters in diameter, it forms dense clusters in wet habitats. Its leaf blades are 4 to 10 millimeters wide, flat to slightly rolled, with ligules 4 to 9 millimeters long. The grass produces spikelets 10 to 20 millimeters long containing 8 to 14 florets with truncate to broadly rounded lemma tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; truncate to rounded, crenate lemma tips diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Freshwater marshes, lakes
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Siskiyou, San Francisco, Shasta, Mendocino, Sierra, Contra Costa
Outside California: to southern Alaska
Bloom period
Glyceria leptostachya blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Pleuropogon: Glyceria has closed leaf sheaths and 1-veined upper glumes; Pleuropogon has open sheaths and distinctive bumpy, jointed spikelet axes.; vs Oloptum: Glyceria has closed sheaths in wetlands; Oloptum has open sheaths in dry sites with needle-like rolled leaves.; vs Torreyochloa: Glyceria has 1-veined upper glumes; Torreyochloa has 3-veined upper glumes and more prominent lemma veining.; vs Puccinellia: Glyceria has closed leaf sheaths in freshwater; Puccinellia has open sheaths in saline/alkaline sites.; vs Desmazeria: Glyceria is perennial in wetlands with closed sheaths; Desmazeria is annual of dry sites with open sheaths.
Frequently asked questions
Is Glyceria leptostachya native to California?
Yes. Glyceria leptostachya is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Glyceria leptostachya bloom?
Glyceria leptostachya blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Glyceria leptostachya grow?
Glyceria leptostachya occurs in Sonoma, Alameda, Marin, Siskiyou, San Francisco, Shasta, Mendocino, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Glyceria leptostachya belong to?
Glyceria leptostachya is in the Poaceae family, genus Glyceria.
What habitat does Glyceria leptostachya grow in?
Glyceria leptostachya grows in Freshwater marshes, lakes.
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.