| Eriocoma coronata | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Eriocoma |
| Species: | E. coronata |
| Binomial name | |
| Eriocoma coronata (Thurb.) Romasch. (2019) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Eriocoma coronata, formerly classified as Achnatherum coronatum, is a greenish species of grass known by the common name crested needlegrass, giant ricegrass, and giant stipa. [2] [3] [4]
The grass is native to southern California and Baja California, where it grows on the coastal and inland hills, often in chaparral, oak woodland, and yellow pine forest plant communities. [3] It grows from sea level to 5,000 feet (1,500 m) in elevation. Eriocoma coronata is found in the Peninsular Ranges, Transverse Ranges, southern Outer California Coast Ranges, and the Channel Islands. [3]
Eriocoma coronata is a perennial grass forming loose bunches up to about 2 metres (6.6 ft) in maximum height, but usually shorter. The clumps expand by short rhizomes. This species is similar to its inland relative, Eriocoma parishii , and occasionally the two intergrade in characteristics and are easily confused.
The grass bears a generous inflorescence up to 60 centimeters long with large spikelets up to 2 centimeters long each, not including an awn of up to 4.5 centimeters. The awn has two distinct kinks.