Hierochloe occidentalis
Encyclopedia
Hierochloe occidentalis is a species of grass
known by the common name California sweetgrass. It is a close relative of the more widely known sweet grass
. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California
, where it grows in the coniferous forests of the coastal mountain ranges. This is a rhizomatous
perennial grass with leaves up to 30 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. The stem reaches a meter in height with an inflorescence
of 7 to 10 centimeters. The spikelets grow on short, wavy stalks and each has three florets with long, protruding stamen
s during flowering.
Poaceae
The Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
known by the common name California sweetgrass. It is a close relative of the more widely known sweet grass
Sweet grass
Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens, also known as sweet grass, buffalo grass, bison grass, holy grass , manna grass, Mary’s grass, seneca grass, sweetgrass, or vanilla grass, is an aromatic herb which grows in northern Eurasia and in North America...
. It is native to the west coast of the United States from Washington to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it grows in the coniferous forests of the coastal mountain ranges. This is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial grass with leaves up to 30 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. The stem reaches a meter in height with an inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of 7 to 10 centimeters. The spikelets grow on short, wavy stalks and each has three florets with long, protruding stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s during flowering.