| Colusa grass | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
| Tribe: | Cynodonteae |
| Subtribe: | Orcuttiinae |
| Genus: |
Neostapfia Burtt Davy |
| Species: | N. colusana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Neostapfia colusana | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Neostapfia is a genus of endemic Californian bunchgrasses, in the subfamily Chloridoideae of the grass family, Poaceae. [3] [1] [4] [5] [6] The only known species is Neostapfia colusana, with the common name Colusa grass. [1]
Distribution
Neostapfia colusana is endemic to the Central Valley of California, in the northern section's Sacramento Valley and in the southern section's San Joaquin Valley. [1] The bunchgrass grows in vernal pools, which are seasonal shallow freshwater ponds.
It is native to the Central Valley counties of Glenn, Colusa, Yolo, Solano, Stanislaus, and Merced. [7] [8]
This rare grass is a federally listed threatened species in the United States. [9] [3]
Description
Neostapfia colusana is a clumping bunchgrass with distinctive cylindrical inflorescences covered in flat spikelets. The inflorescences are said to resemble tiny ears of corn. They fruit in grains covered in a gluey secretion, and when a plant is mature, each clump becomes brown and sticky with the exudate. The genus was named for botanist Otto Stapf.
Conservation
The plant is limited to vernal pool habitats, a type of ecosystem that is increasingly rare as Central Valley land is consumed by development and agriculture, and damaged by flood-control regimens and other alterations of hydrology. [10]
References
- ^ a b c d Jepson (JM2): Neostapfia colusana
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ a b USDA: Neostapfia colusana
- ^ Davy, Joseph Burtt. 1898. "Stapfia, a new genus of Meliceae, and other noteworthy grasses." Erythea 6 (11): 109-113, text.
- ^ Davy, Joseph Burtt. 1898. "Stapfia, a new genus of Meliceae, and other noteworthy grasses." Erythea 6 (11): plate 1, line drawings of Neostapfia colusana, named as Stapfia colusana
- ^ Davy, Joseph Burtt 1899. "Concerning Stapfia." Erythea 7 (43)
- ^ Calflora Database: Neostapfia colusana, with county distribution maps.
- ^ Biota of North America Program 2013 county distribution maps for Neostapfia colusana
- ^ The Calflora Database: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals, including the Consortium of California Herbaria. 2015. Berkeley, California
- ^ California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Profile
