No images found for this plant ID: 462.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "462" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
Columbia needlegrass
Scientific Name: Achnatherum nelsonii
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Columbia Needlegrass (Achnatherum nelsonii)
Achnatherum nelsonii, commonly known as Columbia needlegrass, subalpine needlegrass, or western needlegrass, is a native grass species found in western North America.
Considerations for Pets
- Animals tend to avoid grazing on needlegrass.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Achnatherum nelsonii (Scribn.) Barkworth
- Family: Gramineae (Grass Family)
- Synonyms:
- Stipa columbiana
- Stipa nelsonii
- Subspecies:
- Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. dorei
- Achnatherum nelsonii ssp. nelsonii
Distribution and Habitat
- Columbia needlegrass is native to the western regions of North America.
- It grows from Yukon and British Columbia east to western South Dakota, and south to western Texas.
- It is a mountain grass that thrives at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 12,500 feet where precipitation exceeds 15 inches per year.
- It commonly grows on open areas.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- It is a perennial graminoid, meaning it lives for more than two years.
- It is described as a fine-stemmed, cool-season, erect grass.
Ecological Role
- Columbia needlegrass serves as a valuable forage source for livestock and wildlife in spring and early summer.
- Burning has been observed to affect its seed production, with markedly greater production on 2-year-old burns compared to unburned areas.
Additional Information
- Columbia needlegrass thrives in locations with ample direct sunlight.