Taxon Report

Stipa divaricata Columbus & J.P. Sm.

small-flowered rice grass

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Taxon Summary

Stipa divaricata, commonly known as small-flowered rice grass, is a perennial herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Pinyon and juniper woodland (gravelly, and carbonate), growing at elevations from 700 to 2950 meters. Stipa divaricata is ranked 2B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Stipa divaricata Columbus & J.P. Sm.
Common Name:
 small-flowered rice grass
Family: Poaceae
Element Code: PMPOA4J070
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Oryzopsis micrantha (Trin. & Rupr.) Thurb.
  • Piptatherum micranthum

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: perennial herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Sep Jun-Sep
Elevation: 700-2950 (2295-9680)
General Habitats: Pinyon and juniper woodland
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.3
Global Rank: G5
State Rank:
 S1S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.3 to 2B.3 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 7
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 1
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 6

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Inyo (INY), Mono (MNO), San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Blanco Mtn. (3711842), Clark Mtn. (3511555), Kingston Peak (3511568), Mt. Barcroft (3711852), Station Peak (3711851)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

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

 

Notes
Threatened in ID. See Phytologia 74(1):1-25 (1993) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 25 October 2025].