Celebrating and conserving the ecological richness of California's grasslands
Native grasslands support about 40% of California's total native plant species (Wigand 2007:55).
Native plants support native animals. Fletcher, Rebecca A. Rachel K. Brooks, Vasiliy T. Lakoba, Gourav Sharma, Ariel R. Heminger, Christopher C. Dickinson, Jacob N. Barney. 2019. Invasive plants negatively impact native, but not exotic, animals. Global Change Biology. First published: 07 August 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14752
Regional Guides |
San Diego County Plant Atlas, San Diego Natural History Museum | Guide to the Coastal Plants of San Mateo County, by Mel Preston, Point Blue Conservation Science. |
 Species Spotlight: Narrow-leaf Milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis) by Emily Allen, Grasslands, Summer 2014 |
by Tom Chester, Wayne Armstrong, and Kay Madore, Grasslands, Spring 2009. Note: California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere). CNPS Inventory |
Santa Cruz Tarplant (Holocarpha macradenia) by Michele Hammond, Grasslands Winter 2020 Photo courtesy of Seleney Sanchez |
Ornamental California Native Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes for the Landscape, by Davis Amme, from Grasslands Vol 32 No 3. Summer 2022 |
California Oatgrass (Danthonia californica) Amme D, and S Miccalef. 2008. The Ecology and Development of California Oatgrass. Grasslands Vol 18(3): 3-11. Laude HM 1949, Delayed Germination of California Oatgrass, Danthonia californica. Agronomy Journal Vol 41: 404-408 Photo: California oatgrass (Danthonia californica), Pepperwood Preserve near Santa Rosa. Photo: Jennifer Hogan |
Photo: Jennifer Hogan |
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Squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) by Kendra Moseley, November 2019 Photo: Sheri Hagwood, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database |
Fescues -Festuca species
Species Spotlight: Fescue to the Rescue (Festuca californica, F. idahoensis, F. rubra, F. spp.) by Andrea Williams, Grasslands, Winter 2015 |
Red Fescue (Festuca Rubra
Species Spotlight: The sweet green of narrow mannagrass (Glyceria leptostachya),
by Jeffery T. Wilcox. Grasslands, Fall 2018 |
A rare and threatened North Coast range grass, by Clare Golec, Grasslands, Summer 2009 Note: California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere). CNPS Inventory Listed by the State of California as Threatened. |
Purple Needlegrass (Stipa pulchra) Article: Grazing Nasella: Maintaining purple needlegrass in a sea of aggressive annuals. George MR, S Larson-Praplan, M Doran, KW Tate. 2013. Rangelands Vol 35. No. 2. (2013). Senate Bill No.1226 making purple needlegrass the official State Grass of California. |
Species Spotlight: Hairy Orcutt Grass (Orcuttia pilosa), by Chad Aakre. 2020. Grasslands Summer Vol 30(3): 18-20. Photo by George W. Harwell. |
Carex IdentificationSedges of Marin County, California - Sedge Identification |
Clustered Field Sedge (Carex praegracilis) by Emily Allen, Grasslands, Spring 2015
Carex panza (Pacific Dune Sedge): The Sedge with the Other Name By David Amme, Grasslands, Fall 2008 |
Species Spotlight: Hairy Wood Rush (Luzula camosa), by Emily Allen, Grasslands Spring 2020 Vol 30 No 2. Photo: Emily Allen |
Species Spotlight: 
