Taxon Details

Distichlis littoralis

shore grass

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Taxon Summary:

Distichlis littoralis, commonly known as shore grass, is a perennial herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Marshes and swamps, growing at elevations from 0 to 12 meters. Distichlis littoralis is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Distichlis littoralis (Engelm.) H.L. Bell & Columbus
Common Name: shore grass
Family:	Poaceae
Element Code:	PMPOA46010
USDA Plants Symbol:	DILI11
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	4.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G4G5
State Rank:	S3
Other Status:	SB_CRES
CRPR Changes: added to 4.2 on 2024-12-20
Add Date:	2024-12-20
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: (Feb-Mar)Apr-Jul(Aug-Dec)

Elevation:
0 - 12 meters
0 - 40 feet

General Habitats:

Marshes and swamps (coastal salt)

Microhabitat Details: Usually found along saltmarsh edges near high tide lines.

Microhabitat:

Edges

Notes

Notes:
Threats: Possibly threatened by development, non-native plants, illegal dumping, and urbanization. Potentially threatened by sea level rise.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	0
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	0	0 %

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					0
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	0	0	0	0	0

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	0
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	0
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Baja California (BA), California (CA), Florida (FL), Louisiana (LA), Texas (TX)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Location Data is Forthcoming from the CNDDB

Presumed Extant

Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

CNPS Status Review:	Proposed addition to CRPR 4.2, G4/S3 (2024)
Original Description:	Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of St. Louis 437, pl. 13-14 (1859)
Taxonomic Treatment:	Systematic Botany 33(3): pp. 536-551 (2008)

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory