Leptochloa dubia
Green sprangletop
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Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Leptochloa dubia (Green sprangletop) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by perennial habit, solid internodes, and widely spreading florets.
Green sprangletop is a California native perennial grass found in the Sacramento Valley, specifically in Butte County, growing in sandy or rocky soils at an elevation of 300 meters. Flowering from October to November, this grass produces delicate, laterally compressed spikelets 5 to 12 millimeters long with widely spreading florets. Growing with erect stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall, it develops solid internodes and multiple ascending racemes. Its leaves are flat, up to 35 centimeters long and less than 1 centimeter wide, with glabrous sheaths and small ligules. The grass's distinctive spikelets feature 2 to 6 glumes, with lower glumes smaller than upper ones and lemmas occasionally extending to a short point.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are perennial habit, solid internodes, and widely spreading florets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or rocky soils
Elevation: 300 m
Outside California: southwestern United States, Florida, Mexico, South America
Bloom period
Leptochloa dubia blooms Oct-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Diplachne: Leptochloa lemmas have three veins; Diplachne lemmas are prominently nerved with hairy margins.; vs Spartina: Sprangletop has multiple radiating branches; cordgrass has unbranched spike-like panicles.; vs Festuca: Sprangletop lemmas have three veins; fescue lemmas have five or more veins.; vs Sclerochloa: Sprangletop has loose, feathery branching spikes; hardgrass has dense, rigid tufted habit.; vs Echinochloa: Sprangletop has delicate three-veined lemmas; barnyard grass has coarse awned lemmas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leptochloa dubia native to California?
Yes. Leptochloa dubia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Leptochloa dubia bloom?
Leptochloa dubia blooms Oct-Nov.
What plant family does Leptochloa dubia belong to?
Leptochloa dubia is in the Poaceae family, genus Leptochloa.
What habitat does Leptochloa dubia grow in?
Leptochloa dubia grows in Sandy or rocky soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.