Orcuttia inaequalis
San joaquin valley orcutt grass, San Joaquin Valley Orcutt Grass
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Orcuttia inaequalis (San joaquin valley orcutt grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by cespitose habit and head-like inflorescence.
San joaquin valley orcutt grass is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in central Sierra Nevada Foothills and San Joaquin Valley in vernal pools at elevations below 800 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces delicate pale flowers in densely crowded, head-like inflorescences about 2 to 3.5 centimeters long. Growing in tufted clusters with generally erect stems 5 to 15 centimeters tall, occasionally spreading to form small mats, it appears grayish and hairy. Its narrow leaves are 2 to 4 millimeters wide, with distinctive spikelets featuring small glumes about 3 millimeters long and irregularly toothed lemmas. The tiny fruit is widely elliptic, approximately 1.5 millimeters long, characteristic of these specialized vernal pool grasslands.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by cespitose habit and head-like inflorescence
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools
Elevation: < 800 m
California counties: Tulare, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Madera
Bloom period
Orcuttia inaequalis blooms Apr-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Threatened
Frequently asked questions
Is Orcuttia inaequalis native to California?
Yes. Orcuttia inaequalis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Orcuttia inaequalis bloom?
Orcuttia inaequalis blooms Apr-Sep.
Where in California does Orcuttia inaequalis grow?
Orcuttia inaequalis occurs in Tulare, Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno, Madera, at elevations of < 800 m.
What plant family does Orcuttia inaequalis belong to?
Orcuttia inaequalis is in the Poaceae family, genus Orcuttia.
Is Orcuttia inaequalis rare or endangered?
Orcuttia inaequalis 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.