Search Field Guide
Advanced Search
MT Gov Logo
Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Letterman's Needlegrass - Stipa lettermanii
Other Names:  Achnatherum lettermanii

Image Copyright and Usage Information
Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S1S3
(see State Rank Reason below)

Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:
MNPS Threat Rank:
C-value:

External Links

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Documented from several locations in the southern portion of the state. However, population levels, site characteristics and related information needed to determine the species' status are lacking.
 
General Description
Perennial bunchgrass. Stems 30–60 cm. Leaves: blade 0.5–2 mm wide, essentially hairless at throat region; ligule 3–4 mm long. Inflorescence a contracted panicle 10–15 cm long. Spikelets 7–9 mm long. Lemmas with dense appressed hairs, awn 1–2 cm long (Lavin in Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Phenology
Fruiting in late June-July.

Species Range
Montana Range

Year-round
 


Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 26

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
Open understory at middle to high elevations (Lesica et al. 2012).
Predicted Suitable Habitat Model

This species has a Predicted Suitable Habitat Model available.

To learn how these Models were created see mtnhp.org/models

References
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • Aho, Ken Andrew. 2006. Alpine and Cliff Ecosystems in the North-Central Rocky Mountains. Ph.D. Dissertation. Bozeman, Montana: Montana State University. 343 p.
    • Cope, M.G. 1992. Distribution, habitat selection and survival of transplanted Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) in the Tobacco Valley, Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, Montana: Montana State University. 60 p.
    • Fogelsong, M.L. 1974. Effects of fluorides on Peromyscus maniculatus in Glacier National Park. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, Montana: Montana State University. 52 p.
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
    • Martin, S.A. 1985. Ecology of the Rock Creek bighorn sheep herd, Beartooth Mountains, Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 152 p.
  • Web Search Engines for Articles on "Letterman's Needlegrass"
Login Logout
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Take us with you! PDF icon

Look for this PDF icon at the top of each page as you search and browse.  You can download select species by searching or when you're on a Taxa page like Class, Order, and Family.

Here's some links if you want to download a whole group.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Invertebrates
Butterflies / Moths
Dragonflies / Damselflies
Ferns and allies
Conifers
Flowering Plants (Dicots)
Flowering Plants (Monocots)
Bryophytes
Lichens
Ecological Systems
Noxious Weeds
Citation for data on this website:
Letterman's Needlegrass — Stipa lettermanii.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from