Nassella pulchra

{{Speciesbox

| image = Nassellapulchra.jpg

| status = G5

| status_system = TNC

| status_ref = {{Cite NatureServe | date =1 November 2024 | id =2.149815 | title =Nassella pulchra Purple Nodding Needlegrass | access-date = 6 December 2024}}

| genus = Nassella

| species = pulchra

| authority = (Hitchc.) Barkworth N. pulchra was published in Taxon; Official News Bulletin of the International Society for Plant Taxonomy, 39(4): 611. 1990. Utrecht, The Netherlands. {{ cite web |url=http://www.ipni.org:80/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=948422-1 |title=Plant Name Details for Nassella pulchra |quote=Basionym to Stipa pulchra |work=IPNI |accessdate=August 25, 2010}}

| synonyms =

Stipa pulchra Hitchc.
(basionym) The basionym to N. pulchra, Stipa pulchra, was first described and published in American Journal of Botany, 1915, ii. 301. Lancaster, Penn. {{ cite web |url=http://www.ipni.org:80/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=423691-1 |title=Plant Name Details for Stipa pulchra |quote=Notes: U.S.A. (Calif.) |work=IPNI |accessdate=August 25, 2010}}

}}

Nassella pulchra, basionym Stipa pulchra, is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass.{{cite web|title=Nassella pulchra|url=https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=507084|publisher=ITIS}} It is native to the U.S. state of California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, and mountain ranges, as well as the Sacramento Valley and parts of the Sierra Nevada foothills, and Baja California.

It grows in many types of local habitat, including grassland, chaparral, and oak woodland. It grows well on clay and serpentine soils.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/naspul/all.html|title=Species: Nassella pulchra|website=www.fs.fed.us}}

Description

Nassella pulchra is a perennial bunch grass producing tufts of erect, unbranched stems up to {{convert|1|m|ft}} tall. The extensive root system can reach {{convert|20|ft|m}} deep into the soil, making the grass more tolerant of drought.[http://www.hastingsreserve.org/nativegrass/natives.html California Native Perennial Grasses.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421080949/http://www.hastingsreserve.org/nativegrass/Natives.html |date=2009-04-21 }} Hastings Natural History Reservation.

The open, nodding inflorescence is up to 60 centimeters long and has many branches bearing Spikelets.

The plant produces copious seed, up to 227 pounds per acre in dense stands. The pointed fruit is purple-tinged when young and has an awn up to 10 centimeters long which is twisted and bent twice.{{Cite web|url=http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8738,9138,9142|title=UC/JEPS: Jepson Manual treatment for NASSELLA pulchra|website=ucjeps.berkeley.edu}}{{Cite web|url=http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/info2.asp?name=Nassella_pulchra&type=treatment|title=Grass Manual Treatment|website=herbarium.usu.edu/}} The shape of the seed helps it self-bury.

Uses

This grass is the preferred material used by the California Indian basket weavers for teaching the art of basket weaving.{{Cite web|url=http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403203132/http://www.friendsoftolay.org/cultural.html|url-status=dead|title=Tolay Lake Park: Natural and Cultural History|archivedate=April 3, 2008}}

State grass

Purple needlegrass became the California state grass in 2004.{{Cite web|url=http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/grasses/ca_grass.htm|title=California State Grass, Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra)|website=www.netstate.com}} It is considered a symbol of the state because it is viewed by some as one of the most widespread native California grasses, it supported Native American groups as well as Mexican ranchers, and it helps suppress invasive plant species and support native oaks.

Ecology

In addition to supporting native oaks, it supports common branded skipper and Uncas skipper caterpillars.The Xerces Society (2016), Gardening for Butterflies: How You Can Attract and Protect Beautiful, Beneficial Insects, Timber Press.

References

External links

[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Stipa+pulchra Calflora Database: Stipa pulchra (purple needlegrass)]
[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8738,9138,9142 Jepson Manual (TJM93) treatment for Nassella pulchra]
[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=45644 Jepson Herbarium: Jepson eFlora (TJM2) Stipa pulchra (purple needlegrass)]
[http://herbarium.usu.edu/webmanual/info2.asp?name=Nassella_pulchra&type=treatment Grass Manual Treatment: Nassella pulchra]
[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Nassella+pulchra Nassella pulchra — U.C. photo gallery]
[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=ucjeps&where-genre=Plant&where-taxon=Stipa+pulchra&title_tag=Stipa+pulchra Stipa pulchra — U.C. photo gallery]