Search Field Guide
Advanced Search
MT Gov Logo
Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Western Needlegrass - Stipa occidentalis
Other Names:  Achnatherum occidentale

Image Copyright and Usage Information
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4

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

External Links

 
General Description
Stems 20–40 cm. Leaves: blade 2–3 mm wide, hairless to somewhat hairy near the throat; ligule 0.5–1 mm long. Inflorescence a narrow contracted panicle 10–15 cm long. Spikelet 5–8 mm long. Lemmas appressed hairy, with an awn 3–4 cm long that is plumose in the lower portion (Lavin in Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Species Range
Present
 


Range Comments
Throughout much of western North America (Lavin in Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 44

(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
Sagebrush steppe and other open dry settings in the mountains (Lavin in Lesica 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

References
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:
Western Needlegrass — Stipa occidentalis.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from