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needlegrass sites in the region have been cultivated. Remnant populations and in certain <br /> cases actual islands still exist. Purple needlegrass and the following, nodding needlegrass, <br /> do not undergo typical complete summer dormancy. They will stay green and regrow with <br /> proper management and minimal summer irrigation. <br /> Nodding Needlegrass (S. cernua): Nodding stipa is a long-lived, drought-tolerant <br /> perennial bunchgrass very common on the dryer sandy soils on upland sites. Like purple <br /> needlegrass much of its home range has been cultivated for over a century. Nodding <br /> needlegrass is invasive on agricultural lands and is listed as an agricultural weed in the <br /> valley (U.C. Extension 1974). <br /> Meadow Barley(Hordeum brachyantherum): Meadow barley grows in clay soils <br /> in moist lowland sites at the edge of tule marshes. It is short-lived, summer dormant, and <br /> tolerant of salty and alkali soils. <br /> Please note that the following species are not yet commercially available. Small lots of local <br /> seed can be hand-collected for these species and increased on the ranch: <br /> Upland Meadow Barley(H. californicum): Upland meadow barley grows on much <br /> dryer soils than typical meadow barley. Because their flowers are almost identical the two <br /> are often confused and mislabeled in herbaria. Upland meadow barley has a finer leaf and <br /> grows on clay soils. It is associated with purple needlegrass, creeping wildrye, and the <br /> mima mound habitat in this region. <br /> Foxtail Barley (H.jubatum): Foxtail barley is a common weed of infertile irrigated <br /> pastures, in ditch banks, alkaline fields, and areas with moist soils. <br /> Pine Bluegrass (Poa scabrella): Pine bluegrass is a small, summer dormant <br /> perennial bunchgrass that is common but often hard to find in this area. Plants are usually <br /> dwarfed by the annuals. After setting seed pine bluegrass dies back completely to the <br /> ground by early June. <br /> California Melic(Melica californica): California melic is a loosely spreading <br /> perennial grass. Like the bluegrass it dies back completely after flowering. California melic <br /> Buckeye Ranch Resource Plan (November, 1993) <br /> 142 <br />