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Poaceae

Saltgrass

Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene

Family
Poaceae
Genus
Distichlis

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Saltgrass: Pistillate spikelets with protruding purplish stigmas.
Photo: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (4)
Chinese
鹽草
English
Saltgrass, Desert saltgrass, Inland saltgrass
nv
Tłʼoh díkʼǫ́zhí
Spanish
Grama salada, Huizapol, Huizapole, Pasto del salitral, Pasto puna, Pelo de chancho, Zacahuistle, Zacate salado

Synonyms

  • Agropyron peruvianum (Lam.) Roem. & Schult.
  • Brachypodium peruvianum (Lam.) Roem. & Schult. ex Kunth
  • Briza spicata Burm.f.
  • Briza spicata (L.) Lam.
  • Brizopyrum americanum Link
  • Brizopyrum boreale J.Presl
  • Brizopyrum ovatum Nees ex Steud.
  • Brizopyrum prostratum (Kunth) Benth. ex E.Fourn.
  • Brizopyrum prostratum var. erectum E.Fourn.
  • Brizopyrum prostratum var. humile E.Fourn.
  • Brizopyrum spicatum (L.) Hook. & Arn.
  • Brizopyrum spicatum var. strictum (Torr.) S.Watson
  • Brizopyrum thalassicum (Kunth) Nees
  • Distichlis araucana Phil.
  • Distichlis dentata Rydb.
  • Distichlis deserticola Phil.
  • Distichlis hirsuta Phil.
  • Distichlis hirta Phil.
  • Distichlis marginata Phil.
  • Distichlis marginata var. stricta (Torr.) Thurb.
  • Distichlis maritima Raf.
  • Distichlis maritima var. laxa Holm
  • Distichlis maritima var. stricta (Torr.) Thurb.
  • Distichlis mendocina Phil.
  • Distichlis nodosa Raf.
  • Distichlis prostrata (Kunth) É.Desv.
  • Distichlis spicata f. hirta (Phil.) Kuntze
  • Distichlis spicata subsp. spicata
  • Distichlis spicata subsp. stricta (Torr.) Thorne
  • Distichlis spicata var. andina Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. borealis (J.Presl) Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. distichophylla (Michx.) Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. divaricata Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. laxa Beal
  • Distichlis spicata var. marginata (Phil.) Kuntze
  • Distichlis spicata var. mendozina (Phil.) Hack.
  • Distichlis spicata var. mexicana Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. nana Beetle
  • Distichlis spicata var. spicata
  • Distichlis spicata var. stolonifera Beetle

and 35 more.

Flowers

Flower colour
yellow (USDA PLANTS Database)

Characteristics

Growth habit
Graminoid
Lifespan
Perennial
In the US and Canada
Canada: native, Hawaii: introduced, Lower 48 states: native

Photos

More in Distichlis

Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.