Imperata brevifolia is a species of grass known by the common name California satintail.

Imperata brevifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Imperata
Species:
I. brevifolia
Binomial name
Imperata brevifolia
Synonyms

Imperata hookeri (Rupr. ex Andersson) Rupr. ex Hack.

Distribution

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It is native to the Southwestern United States from California to Texas. It is also native to northern Mexico, where it grows in arid regions where water is available.

Description

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Imperata brevifolia is a perennial grass growing from a hard rhizome to heights near 1.5 meters. The flat leaves are up to 50 centimeters long and 1.5 wide. The inflorescence is a narrow, cylindrical white plume up 10 to 30 centimeters long. It is filled thickly with silky white hairs and dotted with dark speckles which are the orange-brown anthers and purplish-brown stigmas of the spikelets.

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