Needle and Thread Grass

Nassella comata

Needle and Thread Grass is a native bunchgrass of dry plains and prairies across western North America, with seeds tipped by extremely long, spiraling awns that help them screw into the soil when they fall. The 'needle and thread' appearance of the waving awns in wind is distinctive. It provides seeds for many grassland birds and is an important early-season grass for pronghorn.

Habitat

Dry shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies of the western Great Plains and Basin

Diet

Seeds eaten by many grassland birds; grazed by pronghorn and deer

How common

Common

Not certain it is a Needle and Thread Grass? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.