Orcuttia californica
California orcutt grass
(c) Pacific Southwest Region USFWS, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Orcuttia californica (California orcutt grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by southern CA distribution.
California orcutt grass is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southern California coastal, western Transverse Range, San Gabriel Mountains, and Peninsular Range bioregions in vernal pools at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from April to August, this delicate grass produces small pale flowers in compact, crowded spikelets toward the tip of its inflorescence. Growing prostrate and sometimes forming low mats 5 to 15 centimeters long, it has thin stems with distinctive leaf blades 1 to 2 centimeters long and 2 to 3 millimeters wide. Its leaves feature a subtle separation between sheath and blade visible when dry, with each spikelet containing 5 to 15 florets. The tiny fruit is narrowly elliptic, measuring 1.5 to 2 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; southern CA distribution is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools
Elevation: < 700 m
California counties: Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Glenn, Sacramento, San Benito, Stanislaus, Madera
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Orcuttia californica blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Frequently asked questions
Is Orcuttia californica native to California?
Yes. Orcuttia californica is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Orcuttia californica bloom?
Orcuttia californica blooms Apr-Aug.
Where in California does Orcuttia californica grow?
Orcuttia californica occurs in Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, Glenn, Sacramento, San Benito and other counties, at elevations of < 700 m.
What plant family does Orcuttia californica belong to?
Orcuttia californica is in the Poaceae family, genus Orcuttia.
Is Orcuttia californica rare or endangered?
Orcuttia californica carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
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.