''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the genus '' Stipa'' and includes many New World species formerly classified in that genus. As of 2011, '' The Jepson Manual'' includes ''Nassella'' within ''Stipa''. ''Nasella'' is characterized by strongly overlapping lemma margins and reduced, veinless paleae. The lemma tips are fused into the "crown", a short membrane that surrounds the base of the lemma. The rim of the crown usually has hairs. Many species form both cross-pollinating and self-pollinating florets in the terminal panicle. The self-pollinating florets have 1–3 small anthers; the cross-pollinating florets have 3 longer anthers. Some species have self-pollinating inflorescences hidden in their basal leaf sheaths. These hidden inflorescences lack glumes and usually lack awns. Some species (espeically Nassella neesiana and Nassella tenuissima) are considered invasive pests, as the grass is not properly digested by ruminants.

Diversity

As of 2001, there were about 116 species in this genus.Barkworth, M. E. and M. A. Torres. (2001)
Distribution and diagnostic characters of ''Nassella'' (Poaceae: Stipeae).
''Taxon'' 50(2) Golden Jubilee Part 4, 439–68.

California species

*'' Nassella pulchra'' – purple needlegrass; currently reclassified as ''Stipa pulchra''. ::*A native grass of California that was once a dominant species in California grasslands before

invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...

European grasses became dominant. The seeds were an important food source for many of the Indigenous peoples of California. Today, the bunchgrass is the State Grass of California and plays an important role in native grassland restoration and erosion control."History and Culture: State Insignia"
'' California State Library'', December 8, 2006. *'' Nassella lepida'' – foothill needlegrass; currently reclassified as ''Stipa lepida''. ::*A native bunchgrass of California and Baja California. *'' Nassella cernua'' – nodding needlegrass; currently reclassified as ''Stipa cernua''. ::*A native bunchgrass of California, Northwestern Mexico, and the Western United States.

Horticultural species

*''

Nassella tenuissima ''Nassella tenuissima'' is a species of grass known by the common names Mexican feathergrass,McLaren D, Whattam M, Blood K, Stajsic V, Hore R. 1999. Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima): a potential disaster for Australia, 12th Australian ...

'' – Mexican feathergrass. ::*An attractive, drought-tolerant bunchgrass with fine leaves and a narrow inflorescence that sways gracefully in the wind. However, it readily escapes from cultivation and takes hold in disturbed areas, natural areas, and in sidewalk cracks, driveways, and tree wells. It is an

invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...

in California and Oregon.

Other species

*'' Nassella charruana'' ( Arechav.) Barkworth *'' Nassella chilensis'' – Chilean tussockgrass *'' Nassella crassiflora'' (

Roseng. Bernardo Rosengurtt Gurvich (1916–1985) was a Uruguayan Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and sou ...

& B.R.Arrill.) Barkworth *'' Nassella hyalina'' – spear grass *'' Nassella ibarrensis'' *''

Nassella laevissima ''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from North America through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the ge ...

'' *''

Nassella leucotricha ''Nassella leucotricha'' is a species of grass known by the common names Texas wintergrass, Texas needlegrass, and Texas tussockgrass. It is native to the south-central United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) and much of ...

'' – Texas wintergrass *''

Nassella manicata ''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from North America through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the ge ...

'' – Andean tussockgrass, tropical needlegrass *''

Nassella neesiana ''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from North America through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the ge ...

'' – Uruguayan tussockgrass *''

Nassella rosengurttii ''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from North America through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the ge ...

'' ( Chase) Barkworth *''

Nassella trichotoma ''Nassella trichotoma'', the serrated tussock, is a type of bunchgrass plant, native in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru. It is on the list of Weeds of National Significance in Australia, reducing the productivity of pasture and creating a fi ...

'' – serrated tussockgrass, Yass River tussockgrass *''

Nassella viridula ''Nassella viridula'' is a species of grass known by the common name green needlegrass. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in western Canada and the western and central United States. It is introduced in parts of eastern North ...

'' – green needlegrass

References

External links

Calflora Database: ''Nassella''

Flora of North America, Grass Manual: ''Nassella''
{{Authority control Poaceae genera Bunchgrasses of North America Bunchgrasses of South America Grasses of Mexico Grasses of the United States Garden plants of North America Drought-tolerant plants