[Needlegrass and Ricegrass: The Genera Achnatherum and Heterostipa in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Needle-and-thread, Needle and Thread

Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata

Synonyms: Hesperostipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata, Stipa comata ssp. intonsa, Stipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata var. intosa

Needle-and-thread, Needle and Thread: Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata (Synonyms: Hesperostipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata, Stipa comata ssp. intonsa, Stipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata var. intosa) - Needle-and-thread, Needle and Thread: Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata (Synonyms: Hesperostipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata, Stipa comata ssp. intonsa, Stipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata var. intosa)

Needle and thread grass as seen along trails in the Columbia Hills Historical State Park above the Crawford Oaks trailhead.......May 5, 2018.

The achene and awn of Needle-and-thread, Needle and Thread: Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata (Synonyms: Hesperostipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata, Stipa comata ssp. intonsa, Stipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata var. intosa) - Needle-and-thread, Needle and Thread: Hesperostipa comata ssp. comata (Synonyms: Hesperostipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata, Stipa comata ssp. intonsa, Stipa comata var. comata, Stipa comata var. intosa)

Close-up of the "needle and thread" (achene and awn) of needle and thread grass as seen in sandy soils at Horsethief Butte in the eastern Columbia River Gorge........June 3, 2009.
Paul Slichter