Achnatherum
needlegrass, ricegrass
7 species
5 subspecies and varieties
5 subspecies and varieties
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Achnatherum hendersonii – Henderson's needlegrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Douglas, Kittitas, and Yakima counties; central Washington to Jefferson County, Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, rocky, shallow soil, in sagebrush desert or ponderosa pine forest openings.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Douglas, Kittitas, and Yakima counties; central Washington to Jefferson County, Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, rocky, shallow soil, in sagebrush desert or ponderosa pine forest openings.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Achnatherum hymenoides – Indian ricegrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Grasslands, desert plains, and foothills, especially on rocky or sandy soil.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Grasslands, desert plains, and foothills, especially on rocky or sandy soil.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Achnatherum lemmonii – Lemmon's needlegrass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassy balds, prairies, sagebrush grasslands, and ponderosa pine forest, from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassy balds, prairies, sagebrush grasslands, and ponderosa pine forest, from the lowlands to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-June
Growth Duration: Perennial
Achnatherum nelsonii – Nelson's needlegrass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to the northern Great Plains and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to mesic, montane to subalpine meadows and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to California, east to the northern Great Plains and Colorado.
Habitat: Moist to mesic, montane to subalpine meadows and open forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. dorei – Nelson's needlegrass
• ssp. nelsonii – Nelson's needlegrass
Achnatherum occidentale – western needlegrass
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush desert, and coniferous forests from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Grassland, sagebrush desert, and coniferous forests from low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
• ssp. californicum – California needlegrass
• ssp. pubescens – western needlegrass
Achnatherum richardsonii – Richardson's ricegrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to northeastern Oregon, east to the Canadian Great Plains and south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado.
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly sites in grassland, open forest, and sagebrush grassland.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to northeastern Oregon, east to the Canadian Great Plains and south in the Rocky Mountains to Colorado.
Habitat: Sandy and gravelly sites in grassland, open forest, and sagebrush grassland.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Achnatherum thurberianum – Thurber's ricegrass
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; south-central British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Sagebrush grassland and ponderosa pine forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; south-central British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Habitat: Sagebrush grassland and ponderosa pine forest.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Growth Duration: Perennial
