Muhlenbergia fragilis
Delicate muhly
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Muhlenbergia fragilis (Delicate muhly) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by annual with distinctive open inflorescence and white leaf markings.
Delicate muhly is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native annual grass found in the eastern desert mountains including Clark and New York Mountains in open, limestone gravelly wash at elevations around 1,600 meters. Flowering in October, this plant produces purple-anthered flowers in open, thread-like inflorescences 10 to 30 centimeters long with branches spreading at nearly 90-degree angles. Growing with erect or spreading stems 10 to 35 centimeters tall, it has delicate, flat leaf blades 1 to 6 centimeters long and only 1 to 2 millimeters wide. Its leaves feature distinctive white-thickened midveins and a ligule with a large tooth on each side, giving the plant a unique architectural quality. The small spikelets have glumes less than 1 millimeter long and lemmas approximately 1 millimeter in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 10 sympatric species; annual with distinctive open inflorescence and white leaf markings
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, +- disturbed, limestone gravelly wash
Elevation: +- 1600 m.
California counties: San Bernardino
Outside California: to western Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Muhlenbergia fragilis blooms Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
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 fragilis native to California?
Yes. Muhlenbergia fragilis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muhlenbergia fragilis bloom?
Muhlenbergia fragilis blooms Oct.
Where in California does Muhlenbergia fragilis grow?
Muhlenbergia fragilis occurs in San Bernardino, at elevations of +- 1600 m..
What plant family does Muhlenbergia fragilis belong to?
Muhlenbergia fragilis is in the Poaceae family, genus Muhlenbergia.
Is Muhlenbergia fragilis rare or endangered?
Muhlenbergia fragilis carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.