''Hesperostipa comata'', commonly known as needle-and-thread grass, is a species of grass native to North America, especially the western third. It has a wide distribution spanning from northern Canada to Mexico.

Description

''Hesperostipa comata'' is a perennial bunchgrass producing erect, unbranched stems to about in maximum height. The narrow inflorescence is up to long in taller plants, with the mature spikelet bearing a spiraling, hairy, spear-shaped awn up to in length. The seeds of this grass have hygroscopic extensions that bend with changes in humidity, enabling them to disperse over the ground. Each seed has an awn that twists several turns when the seed is released. Increased moisture causes it to untwist, and, upon drying, to twist again, thus the seed is drilled into the ground.

Habitat

This is a grass of many habitat types, from grassland to pine forest. Young shoots provide a favored food source for black-tailed prairie dogs and black-tailed jackrabbits, and the grass is a good early spring graze for livestock before it develops its long, sharp awn.

Cultural

This species was described by the explorers during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Needle and thread grass is the provincial grass of the

prairie province The Canadian Prairies (usually referred to as simply the Prairies in Canada) is a region in Western Canada. It includes the Canadian portion of the Great Plains and the Prairie Provinces, namely Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. These provin ...

of Saskatchewan. This species is popular among children because of the seed's ability to be thrown and stick to clothing. Image:Needleandthreadgrass1.jpg Image:Needleandthreadgrass3.jpg

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Hesperostipa comata''
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q15296074 Pooideae Bunchgrasses of North America Native grasses of the Great Plains region Native grasses of California Native grasses of Nebraska Native grasses of Oklahoma Native grasses of Texas Grasses of the United States Grasses of Canada Grasses of Mexico Flora of Northwestern Mexico Flora of the Western United States Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Flora of the Great Lakes region (North America) Flora of Saskatchewan Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Provincial symbols of Saskatchewan Fiber plants Flora without expected TNC conservation status