''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 3 ...

genus of over 100 perennial

bunchgrass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...

es 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 South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southe ...

. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the genus ''

Stipa ''Stipa'' is a genus of around 300 large perennial hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, which also contains many species form ...

'' and includes many New World species formerly classified in that genus. As of 2011, ''

The Jepson Manual ''The Jepson Manual'' is a flora of the vascular plants that are either native to or naturalized in California. Botanists often refer to the book simply as ''Jepson''. It is produced by the University and Jepson Herbaria, of the University of Cali ...

'' 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 ''Nassella pulchra'', basionym ''Stipa pulchra'', is a species of grass known by the common names purple needlegrass and purple tussockgrass. It is native to the U.S. state of California, where it occurs throughout the coastal hills, valleys, an ...

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

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes, like clover, and other herbs. Grasslands occur natur ...

s 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 The indigenous peoples of California (known as Native Californians) are the indigenous inhabitants who have lived or currently live in the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and after the arrival of Europeans. ...

. 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 The California State Library is the state library of the State of California, founded in 1850 by the California State Legislature. The Library collects, preserves, generates and disseminates a wide array of information. Today, it is the central ...

'', December 8, 2006. *''

Nassella lepida ''Nassella lepida'' ( syn. ''Stipa lepida'') is a species of grass known by the common names foothill needlegrass,bunchgrass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perennial ...

of California and

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

. *''

Nassella cernua ''Nassella cernua'' ( syn. ''Stipa cernua'') is a species of grass known by the common name nodding needlegrass. The bunchgrass is native to western California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico.Western United States The Western United States (also called the American West, the Far West, and the West) is the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. As American settlement in the U.S. expanded westward, the meaning of the term ''the Wes ...

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 ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

and

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

Other species

*''

Nassella charruana ''Nassella charruana'', the lobed needle grass, is a species of bunchgrass in the family Poaceae, native to southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina, and introduced to Victoria, Australia. As its synonym ''Stipa charruana'' it has gai ...

'' ( Arechav.) Barkworth *''

Nassella chilensis ''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 ...

'' – Chilean tussockgrass *''

Nassella crassiflora ''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 ...

'' ( Roseng. & B.R.Arrill.) Barkworth *''

Nassella hyalina ''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 ...

'' – spear grass *''

Nassella ibarrensis ''Nassella ibarrensis'' is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is endemic to Andean Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, ...

'' *'' Nassella laevissima'' *''

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'' – Andean tussockgrass, tropical needlegrass *'' Nassella neesiana'' – Uruguayan tussockgrass *'' Nassella rosengurttii'' (

Chase Chase or CHASE may refer to: Businesses * Chase Bank, a national bank based in New York City, New York * Chase Aircraft (1943–1954), a defunct American aircraft manufacturing company * Chase Coaches, a defunct bus operator in England * Chase Co ...

) 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