Stipa pinetorum
Pinewoods needle grass
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Stipa pinetorum (Pinewoods needle grass) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by high elevation, compact size, short awns distinctive.
Pinewoods needle grass is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Southern Sierra Nevada, northeastern Sierra Nevada, and Desert Mountains in rocky soil within pinyon/juniper woodland and conifer forest at elevations of 2,000 to 3,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, this grass produces delicate pale flowers in dense inflorescences 4.5 to 20 centimeters long. Growing with slender stems 14 to 50 centimeters tall, it forms elegant tufted clumps with narrow, inrolled leaf blades less than one millimeter wide. Its distinctive leaves have glabrous proximal sheaths and fine, thread-like texture. The plant's most notable feature is its persistent, scabrous awn that is 13 to 25 millimeters long and dramatically bent twice.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 23 sympatric species; high elevation, compact size, short awns distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky soil, pinyon/juniper woodland, conifer forest
Elevation: 2000-3800 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Modoc, Alpine, Fresno, Mariposa, Tuolumne
Outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Colorado
Bloom period
Stipa pinetorum blooms Jun-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 pinetorum native to California?
Yes. Stipa pinetorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Stipa pinetorum bloom?
Stipa pinetorum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Stipa pinetorum grow?
Stipa pinetorum occurs in San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Modoc, Alpine, Fresno, Mariposa, Tuolumne, at elevations of 2000-3800 m.
What plant family does Stipa pinetorum belong to?
Stipa pinetorum is in the Poaceae family, genus Stipa.
What habitat does Stipa pinetorum grow in?
Stipa pinetorum grows in Rocky soil, pinyon/juniper woodland, conifer forest.
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.