Distichlis spicata. I really can't say enough good things about this locally native grass species. It is unfortunate that it has more often than not, and like most of our native species, been held about as dear as the nearest trash container. Remnant occurrences of this species including along roadsides and even bus stops as well as in both wet and dry meadows indicate that significant populations once existed in Millcreek-Murray area.The species is diocecious. The plants in flower here appear to be male (details had to see, but based on the yellowish flowers and tallish flowering stalks).August 10, 2013, Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah growing near the edge of a pond within the Van Winkle Expressway corridor at about 4300 ft. elev.
Distichlis spicata.The species is diocecious. The plants in flower here appear to be male (details had to see, but based on the yellowish flowers and tallish flowering stalks and what appear to be pollen strands; also, the lemmas of the male florets are ciliolate, and the males tend to grow a little farther away from the water source which they were here).August 10, 2013, Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah growing near the edge of a pond within the Van Winkle Expressway corridor at about 4300 ft. elev.
Distichlis spicata.August 10, 2013, Murray, Salt Lake County, Utah growing near the edge of a pond within the Van Winkle Expressway corridor at about 4300 ft. elev.