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| Achnatherum richardsonii (Link) Barkworth | Species Image Gallery (opens in a new window) |
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| TAXONOMY | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Family: | Poaceae | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Genus: | Achnatherum | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Species Synonyms: | Stipa richardsonii Link | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common Names: | Richardson’s needlegrass | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DISTRIBUTION | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada: | southern Yukon – British Columbia – Alberta – Saskatchewan – Manitoba | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan: | southern and central Saskatchewan; Cypress Hills – southern Prince Albert National Park – Bredenbury | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ecoregion: | Cypress Upland, Moist Mixed Grassland, Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland | ||||||||||||||||||||
| HABITAT | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Saskatchewan: | upland prairie bordering woods or shrublands | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Associated Species: | alumroot, death camas, golden bean, prairie smoke, shortbristle needle and thread grass, slender wheatgrass | ||||||||||||||||||||
| RARITY STATUS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Provincial
Status According to Harms (2003): |
Vulnerable |
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| Nature Conservancy Status: | G5 S2 |
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| Saskatchewan
Species at Risk Status: |
None |
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| COSEWIC Status: | None |
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| Richardson’s needlegrass is vulnerable because it is rare or uncommon in Saskatchewan and most local populations are small. No immediate threats are known but are possible in the future. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| SPECIES DESCRIPTION | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 50 – 80 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roots: | fibrous | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stems: | perennial, tufted, erect | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leaves: | mostly basal, blades 1 – 3 mm wide, rough, indistinctly veined, margin rolled; sheaths flattened, smooth or rough; ligules 1 mm long or less | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inflorescences: | branched, 10 – 20 cm, open, branches slender, spreading or drooping | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spikelets: | large, 1-flowered, separating above the glumes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Florets: | glumes 8 – 10 mm long, about equal; hardened thickening at base of lemma bearded, sharp-pointed; lemmas 5 mm long, hardened, rolled longitudinally, brown at maturity; lemma awn 2 – 3 cm, twice-bent; palea enclosed in lemma | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fruits: | caryopsis with persistent awn | ||||||||||||||||||||
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