Large-Flower Woolly Grass
Erioneuron avenaceum
Family: Poaceae
Small tufted perennial not reaching a foot tall. Blooms in summer into fall with fluffy inflorescences/seedheads.
Distinguished as an erect perennial 10-30 cm tall with white-margined, leaves which come to a point and are almost entirely restricted to the base of the plant. The inflorescence is condensed in a cluster at the top of the mostly leafless culm and is a condensed panicle with many flowers (florets) per spikelet, each floret awned and with many long hairs which makes the inflorescence appear to be bursting open. Most of the florets become purplish.
Photo by Ana L. Reina-Guerrero, SEINET
Erioneuron avenaceum on iNaturalist
Full to part sun. Best started on irrigation but will reseed and exist in areas where moisture naturally collects.
Birds use the fluff for nesting material in addition to eating the seeds.
Erioneuron is form Greek erion, wool and neuron, nerve, meaning woolly-nerved, while avenaceum means oat-like. There are just two species of Erioneuron native to southern North America and southern South America.
Found in grasslands, rocky slopes and oak openings; 3,000-5,500 ft. in southeastern Arizona, central and southern New Mexico, western Texas; south through Mexico; also in South America in Bolivia and Argentina..
These are very small, bunch grasses most often found in rocky soils. Photo by Pedro Nájera Quezada, iNaturalist
The woolly bloom spike dries to a light tan color. Photo by Dan Beckman, iNaturalist