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Taxon  Report  
Nassella tenuissima  (Trin.) Barkworth
Finestem needlegrass,   Mexican feathergrass
Nassella tenuissima is a perennial grasslike herb that is not native to California.
also called Stipa tenuissima
There is a high risk of this plant becoming invasive in California according to Cal-IPC.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Observation Search
~270 records in California
redone or more occurrences
within a 7.5-minute quadrangle
Genus: Nassella
Family: Poaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Monocot
Jepson eFlora section: monocot

Communities: escaped cultivar
Name Status:
Accepted by PLANTS

Alternate Names:
PLANTSStipa tenuissima
inatStipa tenuissima
Information about  Nassella tenuissima from other sources
USDA PLANTS Profile (NATE3)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

[Cal-IPC] Mexico, Texas, Argentina, Chile native, Invasive: Stipa tenuissima (Mexican feathergrass) is a perennial grass (family Poaceae) that can grow to be 2 feet tall and is found in the central and south coast ranges of California. It is native to Mexico, Texas, Argentina and Chile. It favors grasslands and woodlands. It spreads only by seeds which are dispersed by livestock, humans, wind and water. Seeds adhere to clothing and fur. Cal-IPC Rating: Watch (contributed by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2024. Berkeley, California: The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 04/19/2024).