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A Photographic Guide to Plants of
Humboldt Bay Dunes and Wetlands

Compiled by Gordon Leppig and Andrea Pickart

Release 2.0

April 2018

Poaceae

Scientific Name

Agrostis hallii

Agrostis_hallii_plant.jpg

Common Name 

Hall's bentgrass

Close-up 

Agrostis_hallii_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF

Other

N/A

Agrostis_hallii_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Agrostis microphylla

Agrostis_microphylla_plant.jpg

Common Name 

little-leaf bentgrass

Close-up 

Agrostis_microphylla_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SW

Other

N/A

Agrostis_microphylla_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Agrostis stolonifera

Agrostis_stolonifera_plant.jpg

Common Name 

creeping bentgrass

Close-up 

Agrostis_stolonifera_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

BM, AW, FM

Other

N/A

Agrostis_stolonifera_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Aira praecox

Aira_praecox_plant.jpg

Common Name 

yellow hairgrass

Close-up 

Aira_praecox_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, SW

Other

N/A

Aira_praecox_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Aira caryophyllea

Aira_cariophyllea_plant.jpg

Common Name 

silver hairgrass

Close-up 

Aira_cariophyllea_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, SW

Other

N/A

Aira_caryophyllea_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Ammophila arenaria

Ammophila_arenaria_plant.jpg

Common Name 

European beach grass

Close-up 

Ammophila_arenaria_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS

Other

N/A

Ammophila_arenaria_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Anthoxanthum occidentale

Anthoxanthum_occidentale_plant.jpg

Common Name 

western sweetgrass

Close-up 

Anthoxanthum_occidentaleL_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR

Habitat

CDF

Other

N/A

Anthoxanthum_occidentale_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Anthoxanthum_odoratum_plant.jpg

Common Name 

sweet vernal grass

Close-up 

Anthoxanthum_odoratum_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, SW, AW, FS, CDF

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Avena sativa

1. No image

Common Name 

common oats

Close-up 

ave_sat_1_closeup_oldguide.jpg

Status

E

Occurs

HBNWR

Habitat

AW

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Briza maxima

Briza_maxima_plant.jpg

Common Name 

big quaking grass

Close-up 

Briza_maxima_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, SW

Other

N/A

Briza_maxima_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Briza minor

1. No image

Common Name 

little quaking grass

Close-up 

Briza_minor_flower.jpg

Status

E

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SW, FM

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Bromus carinatus var. carinatus

Bromus_carinatus_plant.jpg

Common Name 

mountain brome

Close-up 

Bromus_carinatus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM

Other

N/A

Bromus_carinatus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Bromus diandrus

Bromus_diandrus_plant.jpg

Common Name 

ripgut brome

Close-up 

Bromus_diandrus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, SW

Other

N/A

Bromus_diandrus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Bromus hordeaceus

1. No image

Common Name 

soft chess

Close-up 

Bromus_hordeaceous_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, BM , SW

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Bromus maritimus

Bromus_maritimus_plant.jpg

Common Name 

California brome

Close-up 

Bromus_maritimus_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS

Other

N/A

Bromus_maritimus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Calamagrostis nutkaensis

Calamagrostis_nutkaensis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

reedgrass

Close-up 

Calamagrostis_nutkaensis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF, BM

Other

N/A

Calamagrostis_nutkaensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Cortaderia jubata

Cortaderia_jubata_plant.jpg

Common Name 

jubata grass

Close-up 

Cortaderia_jubata_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, SW, CDF, RF

Other

N/A

Cortaderia_jubata_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Cynodon dactylon

1. No image

Common Name 

bermuda grass

Close-up 

cyn_dac_1_closeup_oldguide.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

N/A

Habitat

DM, DS, AW

Other

N/A

cyn_dac_2habitat_oldguide.jpg

Scientific Name

Cynosurus echinatus

Cynosaurus_echinatus_plant.jpg

Common Name 

dogtail grass

Close-up 

Cynosaurus_echinatus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS, CDF

Other

N/A

Cynosurus_echinatus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Dactylis glomerata

Dactylis_glomerata_plant.jpg

Common Name 

orchard-grass

Close-up 

Dactylis_glomerata_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF, AW

Other

N/A

Dactylis_glomerata_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Deschampsia cespitosa ssp. holciformis

Deschampsia_caespitosa_plant.jpg

Common Name 

coastal tufted hair-grass

Close-up 

Deschampsia_caespitosa_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

BM,SM

Other

N/A

Deschampsia_caespitosa_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Distichlis spicata

Distichlis_spicata_plant.jpg

Common Name 

saltgrass

Close-up 

Distichlis_spicata_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SM, BM, SW, AW

Other

N/A

Distichlis_spicata_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus

1. No image

Common Name 

Jepson's blue wildrye

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

N

Occurs

N/A

Habitat

CDF, AW

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Elymus mollis ssp. mollis

Elymus_mollis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

dune wild-rye

Close-up 

Elymus_mollis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM

Other

N/A

Elymus_mollis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Elymus xvancouverensis

1. No image

Common Name 

Vancouver wild-rye

Close-up 

Elymus_xvancouverensis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

AW, DM, BM

Other

N/A

Elymus_xvancouverensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Festuca bromoides

Festuca_bromoides_plant.jpg

Common Name 

brome fescue

Close-up 

Festuca_bromoides_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, DS

Other

N/A

Festuca_bromoides_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Festuca occidentalis

Festuca_occidentalis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

western fescue

Close-up 

Festuca_occidentalis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF

Other

N/A

Festuca_occidentalis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Festuca rubra

Festuca_rubra_plant.jpg

Common Name 

red fescue

Close-up 

Festuca_rubra_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM, CDF

Other

N/A

Festuca_rubra_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Holcus lanatus

1. No image

Common Name 

common velvetgrass

Close-up 

Holcus_lanatus_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

AW, SW, FM, CDF

Other

N/A

Holcus_lanatus_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Hordeum brachyantherum ssp. brachyantherum

Hordeum_brachyantherum_plant.jpg

Common Name 

meadow barley

Close-up 

Hordeum_brachyantherum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR

Habitat

BM

Other

N/A

Hordeum_brachyantherum_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Hordeum jubatum

Hordeum_jubatum_plant.jpg

Common Name 

foxtail barley

Close-up 

Hordeum_jubatum_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

BM, SM

Other

N/A

hor_jub_2_habitat_oldguide.jpg

Scientific Name

Parapholis incurva

Parapaholis_incurva_plant.jpg

Common Name 

curved sicklegrass

Close-up 

Parapholis_incurva_flower.jpg

Status

E

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SM

Other

N/A

Parapaholis_incurva_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

​Parapholis strigosa

Parapholis_strigosa_plant.jpg

Common Name 

hairy sickle grass

Close-up 

Parapholis_strigosa_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SM

Other

N/A

Parapholis_strigosa_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Poa annua

Poa_annua_plant.jpg

Common Name 

annual blue grass

Close-up 

Poa_annua_flower.jpg

Status

E

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF, DM, DS, AW

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Poa confinis

Poa_confinis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

coastline bluegrass

Close-up 

Poa_confinis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM

Other

N/A

Poa_confinis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Poa macrantha

Poa_macrantha_plant.jpg

Common Name 

large-flowered sand-dune blue grass

Close-up 

Poa_macrantha_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

DM

Other

N/A

Poa_macrantha_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Polypogon maritimus

1. No image

Common Name 

Mediterranean beard grass

Close-up 

1. No image

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR

Habitat

SW, FM

Other

N/A

1. No image

Scientific Name

Polypogon monspeliensis

Polypogon_monspeliensis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

rabbitsfoot grass

Close-up 

Polypogon_monspeliensis_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SW, FM

Other

N/A

Polypogon_monspeliensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Puccinellia nutkaensis

Puccinellia_nutkaensis_plant.jpg

Common Name 

Alaska alkali grass

Close-up 

Puccinellia_nutkaensis_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SM

Other

N/A

Puccinellia_nutkaensis_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Spartina densiflora

Spartina_densiflora_plant.jpg

Common Name 

dense-flowered cordgrass

Close-up 

Spartina_densiflora_flower.jpg

Status

E, I

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

SM, BM

Other

N/A

Spartina_densiflora_habitat.jpg

Scientific Name

Trisetum canescens

Trisetum_canescens_plant.jpg

Common Name 

nodding oatgrass

Close-up 

Trisetum_canescens_flower.jpg

Status

N

Occurs

HBNWR, Lanphere, Ma-le'l

Habitat

CDF

Other

N/A

Trisetum_canescens_habitat.jpg

Status: Conservation concern (C); Exotic (E); Invasive (I); California Native (N) 

​

Habitat: Dune mat (DM), Dune scrub (DS), Dune swale (SW), Coniferous dune forest (CDF), Riparian forest (RF), Freshwater marsh (FM), Freshwater swamp (FS), Freshwater marsh (FM), Open water (OW), Brackish marsh (BM), Salt marsh (SM), Mudflat (MF) Agricultural wetland (AW).

​

* This vascular plant list for Humboldt Bay dunes and wetlands is based on collections made by the authors primarily between 2001 and 2008.

 

Please email comments, corrections, or proposed additions to andrea_pickart@fws.gov.

 

Nomenclature follows the Jepson Manual, Higher Plants of California, Second edition (U.C. Press 2012).  

​

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