Polypogon imberbis
Streambank rabbits foot grass
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Not Native
Polypogon imberbis (Streambank rabbits foot grass) is a non-native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by habitat restriction, long stalks, and wide leaves.
Streambank rabbits foot grass is a naturalized perennial grass found in the San Joaquin Valley, central Coast, and San Francisco Bay regions on sand dunes and salt marshes at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from June to September, this grass produces pale green to white flower clusters in dense, erect panicles 19 to 30 centimeters long. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 60 to 100 centimeters tall, it has a robust and spreading habit with multiple stems emerging from the base. Its leaves feature long, toothed ligules and narrow blades 5.5 to 11.5 centimeters long and approximately 1 centimeter wide. The spikelets have short bristly glumes with delicate awns 1 to 2.5 millimeters long, giving the inflorescence a soft, feathery appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; key features are habitat restriction, long stalks, and wide leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Sand dunes, salt marshes
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to South America
Bloom period
Polypogon imberbis blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Lagurus: Beard grass has loose fuzzy heads in wet areas; hare's tail has dense white-woolly oval heads in dry areas.; vs Cynosurus: Beard grass has soft fuzzy bristled heads; dogtail has hard one-sided spike-like heads.; vs Hordeum: Beard grass has soft fuzzy heads; barley has stiff, harsh-awned spike-like heads.; vs Setaria: Beard grass spikelets fall intact; foxtail bristles remain on stem after seeds fall.; vs Trifolium: Polypogon is a grass with fuzzy flower spikes; Trifolium is a legume with clover-leaf clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Polypogon imberbis native to California?
No. Polypogon imberbis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Polypogon imberbis bloom?
Polypogon imberbis blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Polypogon imberbis belong to?
Polypogon imberbis is in the Poaceae family, genus Polypogon.
What habitat does Polypogon imberbis grow in?
Polypogon imberbis grows in Uncommon. Sand dunes, salt marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
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.