Rytidosperma caespitosum

Tufted wallaby grass

Family: Poaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Tufted wallaby grass is a naturalized perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and southern Southern California coastal areas in disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from February to August, this grass produces pale flowers in compact clusters 5 to 10 centimeters long. Growing with stems 50 to 70 centimeters tall, occasionally developing short rhizomes, it forms dense tufted clumps. Its leaves are narrow, less than 17 centimeters long, either tightly rolled or slightly flattened, with dense marginal hair tufts. The grass develops distinctive twisted central awns 10 to 20 millimeters long with lateral lobes that taper to long, delicate extensions.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Feb-Aug

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: n CCo, s SCo

California counties: San Diego, San Mateo, Alameda

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.