Nassella pulchra (A. Hitchc.) Barkworth
Purple needlegrass, Purple stipa (syn. Stipa pulchra A. Hitchc.)
Family: Poaceae
Habit: Tufted perennial grass with flat or involute leaves and terminal nodding panicles. Stem 3 to 10 dm. high.
Distribution: Found in oak woodland, chaparral, and grasslands in California coastal ranges from Humboldt County to Baja California; also in the Sierran foothills and the Channel Islands.
Seed unit: One-flowered spikelet with caryopsis.
Seed: Glumes subequal; 12 to 19 mm.; floret 7.5 to 11.5 mm., lemma evenly hairy, becoming glabrous on veins, neck conspicuous, not narrowed at base. Awn 38 to 100 mm., strongly bent.
Embryo: Basal-lateral embryo area of seed caryopsis.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU #12 - Single floret, with or without awn, provided a caryopsis with some degree of endosperm development can be detected (either by slight pressure or by examination over light.) Caryopsis or piece of broken caryopsis larger than one-half of the original size.
Average pure seed units per gram: 212 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 328 samples received for testing from 1992 to 2003).
Range of percent pure seed: 27% to 99%
Range of percent inert: .08% to 71%
Description of inert: Plant material, chaff, soil, broken seed, sticks.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 15-25°; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill and GA3 recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 1276.
Munz, P.A. and D.D. Keck. 1968. p. 1532.
Ransom Seed Laboratory
