[The Genus Trisetum in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington] [The Grass Family in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum

Trisetum spicatum

Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum

Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Spike trisetum (with the dried seed heads) growing in a clump of Luetkea pectinata and bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides), the greener grass at left with long awns as seen along the Timberline Trail 600 about one-half mile uphill to the south of Cloud Cap Inn, Mt. Hood Wilderness.........September 2012.

Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Spike trisetum as seen at left with yarrow and haussknecht's sulfur buckwheat near the Vista Ridge ski run at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Mt. Hood National Forest..........July 19, 2017. The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of spike trisetum as seen near the Vista Ridge ski run at Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Mt. Hood National Forest..........July 4, 2021.

Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Spike trisetum as seen along the summit ridge between the East Rim Viewpoint and the Steens Mountain summit, Harney County, Oregon.........September 1, 2011.

Inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Close-up of the inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Lower culms of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Additional close-ups of spike trisetum as seen along the summit ridge between the East Rim Viewpoint and the Steens Mountain summit, Harney County, Oregon........September 1, 2011.

Close-up of the inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Base of the culms of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Additional close-up imagess of spike trisetum as seen on a rock and gravel bald at the crest of the Onion Creek Trail, northeast ridge of Strawberry Mountain, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.........August 18, 2011.

Close-up of a maturing inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Additional examples of spike trisetum as seen at about 9200' at the head of the Little Blitzen Gorge, Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon........September 1, 2011.

Close-up of the inflorescence of Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum) - Downy Oatgrass, Narrow False Oat, Spike Trisetum: Trisetum spicatum (Synonyms: Aira spicata, Trisetum montanum, Trisetum montanum var. shearii, Trisetum sesquiflorum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. congdonii, Trisetum spicatum ssp. majus, Trisetum spicatum ssp. molle, Trisetum spicatum ssp. montanum, Trisetum spicatum ssp. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. alaskanum, Trisetum spicatum var. congdoni, Trisetum spicatum var. maidenii, Trisetum spicatum var. majus, Trisetum spicatum var. molle, Trisetum spicatum var. pilosiglume, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatiforme, Trisetum spicatum var. spicatum, Trisetum spicatum var. villosissimum, Trisetum subspicatum, Trisetum triflorum, Trisetum triflorum ssp. molle, Trisetum villosissimum)

Spike trisetum as seen at left at about 9000' along the South Loop Road about one mile downhill to the west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon......September 2, 2011. The photo at right shows spike trisetum atop Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness.....July 3, 2024.
Paul Slichter