Muhlenbergia andina
Foxtail muhly
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Muhlenbergia andina (Foxtail muhly) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by rhizomatous habit and wet habitat distinctive.
Foxtail muhly is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, southern Coast Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, northeastern Sierra Nevada, and desert mountains in canyons, streambanks, and wet meadows at elevations up to 3,100 meters. Flowering from July to September, this grass produces delicate yellow-tipped anthers in narrow, appressed inflorescences 2 to 15 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 25 to 85 centimeters tall, it spreads through creeping, scaly rhizomes that form dense clusters. Its leaves are flat and narrow, 4 to 16 centimeters long and 2 to 4 millimeters wide, with truncate, ciliate ligules less than 1.5 millimeters long. The plant's distinctive spikelets feature short awns 1 to 7 millimeters long, creating a soft, feathery appearance characteristic of its "foxtail" common name.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; rhizomatous habit and wet habitat distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Canyons, streambanks, wet meadows
Elevation: < 3100 m
California counties: Butte, Mono, Fresno, San Bernardino, San Benito, Siskiyou, Inyo, El Dorado, Trinity, Del Norte, Tuolumne, Plumas, Alpine, Humboldt, Napa, Mendocino, Nevada, Shasta, Sierra, Mariposa, Tulare, Sonoma, Madera, Lassen, Riverside, Colusa, Tehama
Outside California: to Canada, Colorado, western Texas
Bloom period
Muhlenbergia andina blooms Jul-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Cenchrus: Cenchrus has spiny burs enclosing seed clusters; Muhlenbergia has open panicles without spines.; vs Nassella: Nassella has prominent bent awns; Muhlenbergia awns are straight or absent.; vs Festuca: Festuca has multiple-flowered spikelets; Muhlenbergia typically has single-flowered spikelets in open panicles.; vs Carex: Carex (sedges) has triangular stems and separate male/female flowers; Muhlenbergia has round stems.; vs Juncus: Juncus (rushes) has tiny brown chaffy flowers in clusters; Muhlenbergia has typical grass spikelets.
Frequently asked questions
Is Muhlenbergia andina native to California?
Yes. Muhlenbergia andina is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muhlenbergia andina bloom?
Muhlenbergia andina blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Muhlenbergia andina grow?
Muhlenbergia andina occurs in Butte, Mono, Fresno, San Bernardino, San Benito, Siskiyou, Inyo, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of < 3100 m.
What plant family does Muhlenbergia andina belong to?
Muhlenbergia andina is in the Poaceae family, genus Muhlenbergia.
What habitat does Muhlenbergia andina grow in?
Muhlenbergia andina grows in Canyons, streambanks, wet meadows.
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.