[Needlegrasses and Ricegrasses: The Genera Achnatherum, Celtica, Eriocoma, Hesperostipa East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass

Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens

Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens) - Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The lemma and awn of pubescent western needlegrass as seen at the edge of the forest near the observatores atop Pine Mountain, Deschutes National Forest.......July 12, 2017.

Inflorescence of Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

Inflorescence of pubescent western needlegrass observed in meadows around Mud Creek Campground, Fremont-Winema National Forest......July 18, 2022.

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens) - Awn and lemma of Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

Pubescent western needlegrass? as seen near Rimrock Lake in Moses Coulee, north-central Washington.........June 7, 2009. This probably isn't pubescent western needlegrass......

Close-up of the pubescent lemma and awn of Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows a close-up of the pubescent lemmas and bent awn of western needlegrass as seen the southern rim of the White River Canyon on Mt. Hood.......August 29, 2008. Note that the awn is fairly hairy past the first bend.

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows a close-up of the pubescent lemmas and twice bent awns of western needlegrass as seen the southern rim of the White River Canyon on Mt. Hood........August 29, 2008.


Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows western needlegrass as seen on sandy soils along the southern rim of the White River Canyon on Mt. Hood. Photographed about one mile east of Timberline Lodge along the Pacific Crest Trail.........August 29, 2008. Lupinus arcticus and Eucephalus ledophyllus are also visible in the photo. There was also quite a bit of Bromus carinatus and Carex rossii at this location.

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows a close-up of the pubescent lemmas of western needlegrass as seen the southern rim of the White River Canyon on Mt. Hood.........August 29, 2008.

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows a close-up of the lemmas and awns of western needlegrass as seen along the Willard Springs Foottrail in Conboy Lake NWR.......July 31, 2008.

Common Western Needlegrass, Pubescent Western Needlegrass: Eriocoma occidentalis ssp. pubescens (Synonyms: Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens, Stipa elmeri, Stipa occidentalis var. pubescens)

The photo above shows western needlegrass as seen along the Willard Springs Foottrail in Conboy Lake NWR........July 31, 2008.

Paul Slichter