Stipa comata var. comata
Needle & thread grass
Photo: parent species Stipa comata · (c) Elliott Gordon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Stipa comata var. comata (Needle & thread grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by extremely long awn length.
Needle and thread grass is a native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, Great Basin, and Desert Mountains in grassland and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,500 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from May to July, this grass produces delicate pale flowers with distinctive long, twisted awns that can reach 22 centimeters. Growing with slender stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it forms loose tufts with nodes largely concealed by leaf sheaths. Its leaves are narrow and fine, typical of bunch grasses, with a characteristic feather-like awn that gives the plant its evocative common name. The grass's seed heads feature extraordinarily long, spiraling awns that curl and twist as they mature, creating a delicate, thread-like appearance across grassland landscapes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 sympatric species; extremely long awn length is diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1500-3100 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, San Diego
Outside California: to Yukon Territory, Ontario, Michigan, Texas
Bloom period
Stipa comata var. comata blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Nassella: Nassella has feathery plumose awns; Stipa awns are scabrous (rough) not plumose.; vs Oloptum: Oloptum has twice-bent awns with dense crown; Stipa has once-bent awns.; vs Eriocoma: Eriocoma has densely hairy lemmas; Stipa lemmas are smooth to scabrous.; vs Pappostipa: Pappostipa has plumose awns; Stipa awns are rough but not feathery.; vs Bromus: Bromus has multiple-flowered spikelets; Stipa has single-flowered spikelets with bent awns.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stipa comata var. comata native to California?
Yes. Stipa comata var. comata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stipa comata var. comata bloom?
Stipa comata var. comata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Stipa comata var. comata grow?
Stipa comata var. comata occurs in Inyo, Mono, San Bernardino, Lassen, San Diego, at elevations of 1500-3100 m.
What plant family does Stipa comata var. comata belong to?
Stipa comata var. comata is in the Poaceae family, genus Stipa.
What habitat does Stipa comata var. comata grow in?
Stipa comata var. comata grows in Grassland, sagebrush scrub.
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.