Eriocoma arida is a species of grass known by the common name Mormon needlegrass. It is native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.

Eriocoma arida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Eriocoma
Species:
E. arida
Binomial name
Eriocoma arida
(M.E.Jones) Romasch. (2019)
Synonyms[1]
  • Achnatherum aridum (M.E.Jones) Barkworth (1993)
  • Stipa arida M.E.Jones (1895)
  • Stipa mormonum Mez (1921)

Description

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Eriocoma arida is a tuft-forming perennial bunchgrass without rhizomes. The bunches of stems reach a maximum height of around 85 centimetres (33 in). The inflorescence is a panicle often partly enfolded in the narrow sheath of the uppermost leaf. The spikelets have hairlike awns 4–8 centimetres (1.6–3.1 in) long.[2]

Range and habitat

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Eriocoma arida ranges across the southwestern United States, from California's Mojave Desert through Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico to Texas, and in the states of Nuevo León and Hidalgo in northeastern Mexico.[1]

It is a resident of high desert scrub and woodland habitat at some elevation.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Eriocoma arida (M.E.Jones) Romasch. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Achnatherum aridum". Grass Manual Treatment. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2008.
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