Scientific Name
Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth (Synonyms: Stipa comata)
Common Name(s)
Needle-and-thread
Tribe / Family Name
Stipeae
Flowering Period
May to July
Symbol
HECO26
Description
Needle-and-thread is a native cool-season perennial bunchgrass that reproduces from seeds and tillers. Culms range from 12–110 cm in height. Its inflorescence is a narrow to sometimes open panicle 10–32 cm long and typically enclosed in the subtending sheath. Spikelets are drooping at anthesis, 1-flowered, and awned (the lemma awns 65–225 mm long, twice geniculate (often weakly so), first two segments scabrous to strigose and twisted, terminal segment scabridulous, straight, sinuous, or curled, attached at the crown of the lemma, and hygroscopic). Ligules are up to 7 mm long, membranous, acute or obtuse (sometimes truncate), split or lacerate, puberulent abaxially, and decurrent.
General Info
This drought-tolerant grass can be found in sandy and rocky soils, prairies, plateaus, alluvial fans, dry hills, foothills, plains, and stream and beach terraces.
Similar Species
Needle-and-thread is a distinctive grass, but can occur with other needle-grasses in similar habitats and have similar characteristics. Remember to look for the long awns (up to 225 mm long) when comparing it to other needlegrasses.
Picture of growth habit.
Close-up picture of narrow to open-panicle inflorescence.
Close-up picture of spikelet.
Close-up picture of subequal glumes.
Close-up picture of pubescent lemma.
Close-up picture of membranous ligule.
Illustration of needle and thread. USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. <i>An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols.</i> Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 1: 177.