Achnatherum pinetorum
Encyclopedia
Achnatherum pinetorum is a species of grass
known by the common names pinewoods needlegrass and pine needlegrass. It is native to most of the western United States from California
to Montana
to New Mexico
, where it grows in woodland and forest in rocky mountainous areas.
The inflorescence
is up to about 20 centimeters long and branched but with the branches running parallel against the main stalk. Each spikelet is coated densely in long hairs and has an awn up to 2.5 centimeters long with two kinks in it.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
known by the common names pinewoods needlegrass and pine needlegrass. It is native to most of the western United States from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, where it grows in woodland and forest in rocky mountainous areas.
Description
Achnatherum pinetorum is a perennial bunchgrass forming tight bunches of erect stems generally between 10 and 50 centimeters tall. The hairlike leaf blades are under a millimeter wide.The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is up to about 20 centimeters long and branched but with the branches running parallel against the main stalk. Each spikelet is coated densely in long hairs and has an awn up to 2.5 centimeters long with two kinks in it.