Stipa sp.
Needle grass, Needle Grass
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Poaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Stipa sp. (Needle grass) is a non-native California perennial in the Poaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Stipa sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Stipa sp. belong to?
Stipa sp. is in the Poaceae family, genus Stipa.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.