Orcuttia pilosa
Hairy orcutt grass
(c) Ryan Donnelly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ryan Donnelly · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Orcuttia pilosa (Hairy orcutt grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by dense hairiness and longest inflorescences.
Hairy orcutt grass is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in the Great Valley bioregion, specifically in Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, and Tehama counties, inhabiting vernal pools at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces small, delicate flowers crowded at the tip of exserted inflorescences less than 10 centimeters long. Growing as a densely hairy, tufted plant with decumbent to erect stems 5 to 20 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters in seasonal wetland environments. Its leaves have blades 3 to 5 millimeters wide, with a distinct separation between leaf sheath and blade when dry. The plant features small spikelets with glumes approximately 3 millimeters long and irregularly 3-toothed, containing 10 to 40 florets with lemmas 4 to 5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; distinguished by dense hairiness and longest inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Vernal pools
Elevation: < 200 m
California counties: Merced, Madera, Stanislaus, Tehama, Glenn
Bloom period
Orcuttia pilosa blooms May-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1 · Endangered
Frequently asked questions
Is Orcuttia pilosa native to California?
Yes. Orcuttia pilosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Orcuttia pilosa bloom?
Orcuttia pilosa blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Orcuttia pilosa grow?
Orcuttia pilosa occurs in Merced, Madera, Stanislaus, Tehama, Glenn, at elevations of < 200 m.
What plant family does Orcuttia pilosa belong to?
Orcuttia pilosa is in the Poaceae family, genus Orcuttia.
Is Orcuttia pilosa rare or endangered?
Orcuttia pilosa 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.