Stipa kingii
King's rice grass
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Stipa kingii (King's rice grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
King's rice grass is a California native perennial found in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains in damp streambanks and meadows at elevations of 2,000 to 3,650 meters. Flowering from July to September, this grass produces delicate, narrow spikelets with pale, narrowly ovate glumes. Growing with slender stems 15 to 38 centimeters tall, it features thread-like leaves less than 0.3 millimeters wide that appear wavy or curled. Its distinctive leaves are extremely fine, creating a soft, delicate appearance in alpine meadow environments. The grass produces an awn 10 to 14 millimeters long that is subtly curved and persistent, adding visual texture to its delicate form.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Damp streambanks and meadows
Elevation: 2000-3650 m
California counties: Mono, Mariposa, Fresno, Tulare, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Stipa kingii blooms Jul-Sep.
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 kingii native to California?
Yes. Stipa kingii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stipa kingii bloom?
Stipa kingii blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Stipa kingii grow?
Stipa kingii occurs in Mono, Mariposa, Fresno, Tulare, Tuolumne, at elevations of 2000-3650 m.
What plant family does Stipa kingii belong to?
Stipa kingii is in the Poaceae family, genus Stipa.
What habitat does Stipa kingii grow in?
Stipa kingii grows in Damp streambanks and meadows.
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.