Eriocoma occidentalis is a species of grass known by the common name western needlegrass. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, Colorado, and Arizona and in northeastern Mexico (Chihuahua), where it grows in many types of habitat.
This is a tufting perennial bunchgrass forming tight clumps of erect stems up to about in maximum height, but sometimes much shorter. The hairlike leaves are less than a millimeter wide and may have rolled edges. The inflorescence is up to long, with each hairy spikelet bearing an awn up to 4 or 5 centimeters long. The awn is kinked twice.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are accepted: Eriocoma occidentalis subsp. californica – Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Alberta Eriocoma occidentalis subsp. occidentalis – California Eriocoma occidentalis subsp. pubescens – British Columbia and Alberta to California, Arizona, Colorado, and northeastern Mexico (Chihuahua)
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment
USDA Plants Profile
Photo gallery
occidentalis
Bunchgrasses of North America
Native grasses of California
Grasses of the United States
Grasses of Canada
Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Plants described in 1871