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Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass)
Strickland, Sam C.

Nassella leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl

Texas wintergrass, Texas Speargrass, Wintergrass

Poaceae (Grass Family)

Synonyms: Stipa leucotricha Trin. & Rupr.

USDA Symbol: NALE3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Plant: Tufted Inflorescense: Loose panicle 6-25 cm. long with long, slender lower branches. Blades: 10-30 cm. long and 1-4 mm. broad, pubescent with short, stiff hairs on one or both surfaces. Culms: 30-70 cm. tall, often geniculate-spreading at base.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Linear
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Inflorescence: Panicle
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: To 2 feet.
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , LA , OK , SC , TX
Native Distribution: North and central Texas, north to Oklahoma, south to northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Prairies, brushy areas, roadsides and disturbed areas.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Calcareous, sandy, clayey. Thrives on disturbed soils.
Conditions Comments: Open grassland sites, prairies, roadsides. Not shade tolerant.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Good for early spring forage.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: The Grass Family is an essential larval food for most branded skippers and most of the satyrs.
Deer Resistant: High

Find Seed or Plants

Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX
Jacob's Well Natural Area - Wimberley, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0707 Collected Apr 1, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
NPSOT 0300 Collected Apr 26, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-0012 Collected 2006-05-05 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Nassella leucotricha in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Nassella leucotricha in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Nassella leucotricha

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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