Stipa comata var. intermedia
Intermediate 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. intermedia (Intermediate needle & thread grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by awn characteristics distinguish from var. comata.
Intermediate needle & thread grass is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains in pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,350 to 3,100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this grass produces pale tan to silvery flowers with dramatic needle-like awns up to 13 centimeters long. Growing with upright stems that have exposed lower nodes, it forms dense clumps 30 to 60 centimeters tall with distinctive feathery seed heads. Its narrow leaves are thin and elongated, typically green to grayish-green, emerging from the base of the plant in a clustered arrangement. The seeds are characterized by extremely long, straight awns that create a delicate, thread-like appearance when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 13 sympatric species; awn characteristics distinguish from var. comata
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1350-3100 m
Outside California: to southwestern Canada, New Mexico
Bloom period
Stipa comata var. intermedia blooms May-Aug.
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. intermedia native to California?
Yes. Stipa comata var. intermedia is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stipa comata var. intermedia bloom?
Stipa comata var. intermedia blooms May-Aug.
What plant family does Stipa comata var. intermedia belong to?
Stipa comata var. intermedia is in the Poaceae family, genus Stipa.
What habitat does Stipa comata var. intermedia grow in?
Stipa comata var. intermedia grows in Pinyon/juniper woodland.
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.