Family: Poaceae

Tufted perennial grass, without rhizomes reaching over 3’ tall. Flowers April into June. The bloom spikes come out straight and as the seed matures, the plants curl and become squiggly.

Hesperostipa is a genus of perennial bunchgrasses distinguished by having tightly rolled leaves and single-seeded spikelets with sharp points and very long awns, 5-25 cm long, which usually become twisted at maturity and, upon falling, leave large straw-colored glumes behind. H. neomexicana is similar to H. comata ssp. comata, but differs in its long awn hairs

Closely related species are used as staple grains by Native Americans in the southwest. This species likely has the same uses.

Hesperostipa means western Stipa, as the genus Stipa is solely in the old world according to recent treatments; Stipa is from the Greek word for rope or fiber; neomexicana refers to New Mexico. There are 5 species endemic to North America.

Found on dry, sandy, or rocky slopes and plains in grassland, oak, and piñon associations; 3,500-6,500 ft. in southwestern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Wyoming, western Texas; south into northern Mexico.

Photo by Cecelia Alexander, iNaturalist
Zuloagaea bulbolsa on SEINET