Taxon Report

Muhlenbergia appressa C. Goodd.

appressed muhly

Print Report


© 2006 Steve Matson

Taxon Summary

Muhlenbergia appressa, commonly known as appressed muhly, is a annual herb in the Poaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal scrub, Mojavean desert scrub, and Valley and foothill grassland, growing at elevations from 20 to 1600 meters. Muhlenbergia appressa is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Muhlenbergia appressa C. Goodd.
Common Name:
 appressed muhly
Family: Poaceae
Element Code: PMPOA48020
USDA Plants Symbol: MUAP
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Apr-May Apr-May
Elevation: 20-1600 (65-5250)
General Habitats: Coastal scrub, Mojavean desert scrub, Valley and foothill grassland
Microhabitat: Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 2B.2
Global Rank: G4
State Rank:
 S3
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
  • changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 29
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 29

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Los Angeles (LAX), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Castle Peaks (3511532), Columbia Mtn. (3511514), Fountain Peak (3411585), Indian Cove (3411612), Julian (3311615), Ord Mountain (3411667), Pilot Knob (3511742), San Clemente Island Central (3211874), San Clemente Island South (3211873)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 1
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
2 7 %
Grazing 2 6%

Notes
Known in CA only from Providence Mtns. (SBD Co.), and SCM Isl.; has this taxon been poorly collected in CA? See Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 31:504 (1914) for original description, and Madroño 35(4):353 (1988) for discussion of SCM Isl. records.
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 7 November 2025].