Puccinellia lemmonii
Lemmon's alkali grass
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Matt Berger · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Puccinellia lemmonii (Lemmon's alkali grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by acute lemma tips.
Lemmon's alkali grass is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, California Ranges, and Great Basin in saline meadows and flats at elevations of 700 to 2,000 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small, delicate flowers in narrow, branching inflorescences up to 10 centimeters long. Growing with fine, tightly inrolled leaves less than 2 millimeters wide, it forms dense, low-growing clumps characteristic of alkali-adapted grasses. Its leaves are distinctively narrow, rolling into thin threads when dry, with spikelets featuring lemmas that have acute tips and slightly scabrous margins. The plant's adaptations to saline environments are evident in its compact growth form and ability to thrive in challenging meadow conditions.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 3 species; acute lemma tips are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Saline meadows, flats
Elevation: 700-2000 m
California counties: Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Siskiyou, Inyo, Monterey, San Mateo
Outside California: to Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming
Bloom period
Puccinellia lemmonii blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Distichlis: Puccinellia has round stems and tufted growth; Distichlis has strongly flattened stems with leaves in two distinct rows.; vs Bromus: Puccinellia has faint 5-veined lemmas in alkaline sites; Bromus has prominent 5-9 veined lemmas in upland sites.; vs Torreyochloa: Puccinellia is tufted in saline soils; Torreyochloa has rhizomes and grows in high-elevation freshwater.; vs Glyceria: Puccinellia has faintly veined lemmas in alkaline soil; Glyceria has prominent veins and closed leaf sheaths in freshwater.; vs Desmazeria: Puccinellia is perennial in alkaline wetlands; Desmazeria is annual of dry disturbed sites with different spikelet structure.
Frequently asked questions
Is Puccinellia lemmonii native to California?
Yes. Puccinellia lemmonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Puccinellia lemmonii bloom?
Puccinellia lemmonii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Puccinellia lemmonii grow?
Puccinellia lemmonii occurs in Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Siskiyou, Inyo, Monterey, San Mateo, at elevations of 700-2000 m.
What plant family does Puccinellia lemmonii belong to?
Puccinellia lemmonii is in the Poaceae family, genus Puccinellia.
What habitat does Puccinellia lemmonii grow in?
Puccinellia lemmonii grows in Saline meadows, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · 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.