Puccinellia pumila
Dwarf alkali grass
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Puccinellia pumila (Dwarf alkali grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by smooth spikelet stalks distinguish it.
Dwarf alkali grass is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the northern Coast Ranges in coastal marshes and flats at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces delicate, small grass flowers in an open inflorescence 3 to 20 centimeters long with lower branches that become reflexed or ascending in fruit. Growing as a slender, low-growing perennial with fine stems, it forms dense tufted clumps in wetland environments. Its leaf blades are distinctively narrow, ranging from flat to slightly inrolled and measuring 1 to 3 millimeters wide when extended. The plant's spikelets feature lemmas with acute to obtuse tips, with the lowest lemma measuring 2.5 to 4.6 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Co-occurs with 3 species; smooth spikelet stalks distinguish it
Habitat and range
Habitat: Marshes, flats
Elevation: < 10 m
Outside California: to Alaska, northeastern North America, northeastern Asia
Bloom period
Puccinellia pumila blooms Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
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 pumila native to California?
Yes. Puccinellia pumila is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Puccinellia pumila bloom?
Puccinellia pumila blooms Jul.
What plant family does Puccinellia pumila belong to?
Puccinellia pumila is in the Poaceae family, genus Puccinellia.
Is Puccinellia pumila rare or endangered?
Puccinellia pumila carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank SH.
What habitat does Puccinellia pumila grow in?
Puccinellia pumila grows in Marshes, flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Puccinellia simplex — California alkaligrass
- Puccinellia sp. — Alkali grass
- Puccinellia distans — European alkali grass
- Puccinellia howellii — Howell's alkali grass
- Puccinellia lemmonii — Lemmon's alkali grass
- Puccinellia nutkaensis — Alaska alkali grass
- Rytidosperma caespitosum — Tufted wallaby grass
- Rytidosperma penicillatum — Hairy oat grass
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.