''Achnatherum'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s in the grass family,

Poaceae Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivate ...

. It includes 20 species of

needlegrass The term needlegrass may refer to any of several genera of grasses, including: *''Achnatherum'' *''Aristida'' (three-awns) *''Hesperostipa'' *''Nassella'' *''Stipa'' *''Triraphis'' See also * Spear grass (disambiguation) * Wiregrass (disambiguatio ...

native to temperate Eurasia and North Africa. Several needlegrass species have been switched between ''Achnatherum'' and genus ''

Stipa ''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large Perennial plant, perennial hermaphrodite, hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, w ...

''; taxonomy between the two closely related genera is still uncertain. In 2019 Peterson ''et al.'' reorganized the genera in tribe

Stipeae The Stipeae are a tribe of grasses within the subfamily Pooidae, with up to 600 described species. Description The defining morphological features of the Stipeae include single-flowered spikelets lacking a rachilla extension, and the lemmas ( ...

based on molecular DNA studies, and placed the species from

the Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.'' Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sin ...

into other genera.Peterson PM, Romaschenko K, Soreng RJ, Valdés Reyna J (2019) A key to the North American genera of Stipeae (Poaceae, Pooideae) with descriptions and taxonomic names for species of ''Eriocoma, Neotrinia, Oloptum'', and five new genera: ''Barkworthia, × Eriosella, Pseudoeriocoma, Ptilagrostiella'', and ''Thorneochloa''. ''PhytoKeys'' 126: 89-125. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.126.34096

Species

20 species are accepted by

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

as of October 2024:

Unplaced species

* ''

Achnatherum roshevitzii ''Achnatherum roshevitzii'' (Roshevich's achnatherum) is a species of grass that is endemic to Azerbaijan, and is only known from the Quba District. It occurs on sandy grasslands in lower montane areas. This species is threatened by overgrazing ...

'' (

unplaced In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century. The ter ...

) - Roshevich's achnatherum

Formerly placed here

Species previously included in ''Achnatherum'': * ''

Amelichloa brachychaeta ''Amelichloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range stretches from Mexico into southern South America. It is found in (southern, north-eastern and north-western) Argentina, Chile, most of Mexico and Ur ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum brachychaetum'' ) - punagrass * ''

Amelichloa caudata ''Amelichloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range stretches from Mexico into southern South America. It is found in (southern, north-eastern and north-western) Argentina, Chile, most of Mexico and Ur ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum caudatum'' ) - Chilean ricegrass * ''

Amelichloa clandestina ''Amelichloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range stretches from Mexico into southern South America. It is found in (southern, north-eastern and north-western) Argentina, Chile, most of Mexico and Ur ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum clandestinum'' ) - Mexican ricegrass * ''

Barkworthia stillmanii ''Barkworthia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It contains a single species, ''Barkworthia stillmanii'', a perennial grass native to California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United S ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum stillmanii'' ) - Stillman's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma arida ''Eriocoma arida'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Mormon needlegrass. It is native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico. Description ''Eriocoma arida'' is a tuft-forming perennial bunchgrass without ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum aridum'' ) - Mormon needlegrass * '' Eriocoma × bloomeri'' (as ''Achnatherum × bloomeri'' ) - Bloomer's ricegrass * ''

Eriocoma contracta ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum contractum'' ) - contracted ricegrass * ''

Eriocoma coronata ''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.

'' (as ''Achnatherum coronatum'' ) - crested needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma curvifolia ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum curvifolium'' ) - Guadalupe ricegrass * ''

Eriocoma hymenoides ''Eriocoma hymenoides'' (common names: Indian ricegrass and sand rice grass) is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass. It is native to western North America. Description In the wild, ''Eriocoma hymenoides'' typically grows tall and wide.Tirmen ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum hymenoides'' ) - Indian ricegrass * ''

Eriocoma hendersonii ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum hendersonii'' ) - Henderson's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma latiglumis ''Eriocoma latiglumis'' is a species of grass known by the common names wide-glumed needlegrass and Sierra needlegrass. It is a bunchgrass is endemic to montane California, where it grows in the mountain meadows and pine forests of the Sierra ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum latiglume'' ) - wide-glumed needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma lemmonii ''Eriocoma lemmonii'' is a species of grass known by the common name Lemmon's needlegrass. It is native to western North America, where its distribution extends from British Columbia to southern California. This perennial grass forms a dense clu ...

'' (''Achnatherum lemmonii'' ) - Lemmon's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma lettermanii ''Eriocoma lettermanii'' is a species of grass known by the common name Letterman's needlegrass. It is native to the western United States from California and Oregon to Montana and New Mexico, where it is a resident of several types of habitat. ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum lettermanii'' ) - Letterman's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma lobata ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum lobatum'' ) - lobed needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma nelsonii ''Eriocoma nelsonii'' is a species of grass known by the common names Columbia needlegrass, subalpine needlegrass, and western needlegrass. It is native to western North America, from Yukon and British Columbia to California to Texas.Zouhar, Kri ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum nelsonii'' ) - Nelson's needlegrass, Dore's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma nevadensis ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum nevadense'' ) - Nevada needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma occidentalis ''Eriocoma occidentalis'' is a species of grass known by the common name western needlegrass. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, Colorado, and Arizona and in northeastern Mexico (Chihuahua), where it grows ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum occidentale'' ) - western needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma parishii ''Eriocoma parishii'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Parish's needlegrass.

'' (as ''Achnatherum parishii'' ) - Parish's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma perplexa ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum perplexum'' ) - perplexing needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma pinetorum ''Eriocoma pinetorum'' is a species of grass known by the common names pinewoods needlegrass and pine needlegrass. It is native to most of the western United States from California to Montana to New Mexico, where it grows in woodland and forest i ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum pinetorum'' ) - pinewoods needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma richardsonii ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum richardsonii'' ) - Richardson's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma robusta ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum robustum'' ) - sleepygrass * ''

Eriocoma scribneri ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum scribneri'' ) - Scribner needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma thurberiana ''Eriocoma thurberiana'' is a species of grass known by the common name Thurber's needlegrass. It is native to the western United States, where it occurs from Washington to California and east to Montana and Wyoming.Archer, Amy J. 2000''Achnather ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum thurberianum'' ) - Thurber's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma swallenii ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum swallenii'' ) - Swallen's needlegrass * ''

Eriocoma webberi ''Eriocoma'' is a genus of plants in the grass family (Poaceae). It includes 27 species of grasses native to western and central North America. Species range from Alaska through western and central Canada, western and central United States, to no ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum webberi'' ) - Webber needlegrass *'' Neotrinia splendens'' (Trin.) M.Nobis, P.D.Gudkova & A.Nowak (as ''Achnatherum splendens'' (Trin.) Nevsky) * '' Pappostipa speciosa'' (as ''Achnatherum speciosum'' ) - desert needlegrass * '' Pentameris pallida'' (as ''Achnatherum capense'' ) * ''

Ptilagrostis duthiei ''Ptilagrostis'' is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. They are distributed in Asia and North America. They are known commonly as false needlegrasses.Pseudoeriocoma acuta ''Pseudoeriocoma'' is a genus of Poaceae, grasses. It includes six species native to Mexico and to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the southwestern United States. Species Six species are accepted. *''Pseudoeriocoma acuta'' *''Pseudoeriocoma c ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum acutum'' ) * ''

Pseudoeriocoma editorum ''Pseudoeriocoma'' is a genus of grasses. It includes six species native to Mexico and to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the southwestern United States. Species Six species are accepted. *''Pseudoeriocoma acuta'' *''Pseudoeriocoma constricta ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum editorum'' ) * ''

Pseudoeriocoma eminens ''Pseudoeriocoma'' is a genus of grasses. It includes six species native to Mexico and to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the southwestern United States. Species Six species are accepted. *''Pseudoeriocoma acuta ''Pseudoeriocoma'' is a genu ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum eminens'' ) - southwestern needlegrass * ''

Thorneochloa diegoensis ''Thorneochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It contains a single species, ''Thorneochloa diegoensis'', commonly known as San Diego needlegrass. It is a perennial grass native to southern California and norther ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum diegoense'' ) - San Diego needlegrass * ''

Timouria conferta ''Timouria'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It contains two species: Its native range is Central Asia to Mongolia and North China. References

Stipeae Grasses of Asia Flora of Mongolia Flora of China T ...

'' (as ''Achnatherum caragana'' )

References

* ''CRC World Dictionary of Grasses - Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology - Volume I (A - D)'', by Umberto Quattrocchi,

External links

USDA Plants Profile for ''Achnatherum'' speciesHerbarium.usu.edu: ''Achnatherum'' Genus key
{{Authority control Poaceae genera Flora of the Palearctic realm Taxa described in 1812 Taxa named by Palisot de Beauvois