Glyceria striata
Ridged manna grass, Ridged Manna Grass
(c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Glyceria striata (Ridged manna grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by high elevation, small spikelets, very short anthers diagnostic.
Ridged manna grass is a California native perennial found in the California Floristic Province and North Coast Ranges in wet meadows, streambanks, and conifer forests at elevations of 1,500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from July to August, this grass produces small, delicate spikelets with pale greenish flowers arranged in open, spreading branches. Growing 20 to 130 centimeters tall with slender rhizomatous stems 1.5 to 5 millimeters in diameter, it forms dense grass clusters in moist habitats. Its leaves are firm, 2 to 6 millimeters wide, with distinctive ligules 1 to 3.5 millimeters long that help distinguish it from other grass species. The spikelets are small and ovoid, typically 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, with 3 to 6 florets featuring boat-shaped lemma tips.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; high elevation, small spikelets, very short anthers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Wet meadows, streambanks, conifer forest
Elevation: 1500-2500 m
California counties: Humboldt, Fresno, El Dorado, Mariposa, Riverside, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Tehama, Nevada, Tulare, Trinity, Alpine, Butte, Del Norte, Lake, Madera, Mendocino, Mono, Sonoma, Placer, Colusa, Plumas, Calaveras, Napa
Outside California: North America
Bloom period
Glyceria striata blooms Jul-Aug.
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 striata native to California?
Yes. Glyceria striata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Glyceria striata bloom?
Glyceria striata blooms Jul-Aug.
Where in California does Glyceria striata grow?
Glyceria striata occurs in Humboldt, Fresno, El Dorado, Mariposa, Riverside, Tuolumne, San Bernardino, Modoc and other counties, at elevations of 1500-2500 m.
What plant family does Glyceria striata belong to?
Glyceria striata is in the Poaceae family, genus Glyceria.
What habitat does Glyceria striata grow in?
Glyceria striata grows in Common. Wet meadows, streambanks, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Glyceria borealis — Boreal manna grass
- Glyceria declinata — Low manna grass
- Glyceria elata — Fowl manna grass
- Glyceria fluitans — Water manna grass
- Glyceria grandis — American manna grass
- Glyceria leptostachya — Narrow manna grass
- Hainardia cylindrica — Barbgrass
- Hainardia sp. — Barb grass
- Heteropogon contortus — Tanglehead
- Heteropogon sp.
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.