Muhlenbergia jonesii
Jones' muhly
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Muhlenbergia jonesii (Jones' muhly) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by densely clumped habit and short awns distinctive.
Jones' muhly is a California native perennial grass found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California high Cascades, and northern Sierra Nevada on open slopes at elevations of 1,130 to 2,130 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate purple-tinged flowers in loosely spreading inflorescences 4 to 15 centimeters long. Growing in dense tufts with stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms compact clumps with multiple grass stems emerging from a single base. Its narrow leaves are flat to slightly folded, 5 to 12 centimeters long and 1 to 2.5 millimeters wide, emerging in tufted clusters from the base of the plant. The grass has distinctive short soft hairs on its lemmas and small purple-colored anthers, giving it a subtle, delicate appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 8 sympatric species; densely clumped habit and short awns distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open slopes
Elevation: 1130-2130 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Lassen, El Dorado, Plumas, Nevada, Shasta, Butte, Placer, Trinity, Modoc
Bloom period
Muhlenbergia jonesii blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 jonesii native to California?
Yes. Muhlenbergia jonesii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Muhlenbergia jonesii bloom?
Muhlenbergia jonesii blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Muhlenbergia jonesii grow?
Muhlenbergia jonesii occurs in Siskiyou, Lassen, El Dorado, Plumas, Nevada, Shasta, Butte, Placer and other counties, at elevations of 1130-2130 m.
What plant family does Muhlenbergia jonesii belong to?
Muhlenbergia jonesii is in the Poaceae family, genus Muhlenbergia.
Is Muhlenbergia jonesii rare or endangered?
Muhlenbergia jonesii carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
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.