Taxon: Nassella tenuissima (Trin.) Barkworth

Summary

Genus:

Nassella

Family:

Poaceae (alt. Gramineae)

Subfamily:

Pooideae

Tribe:

Stipeae

Nomen number:

402094

Place of publication:

Taxon 39:612. 1990

Verified:

04/15/2004 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

7 (7 active, 3 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Stipa tenuissima Trin.

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Barkworth, M. E. & A. M. Torres. 2001. Distribution and diagnostic characters of Nassella (Poaceae: Stipeae). Taxon 50:458.
Barkworth, M. E. 1990. Nassella (Gramineae, Stipeae): revised interpretation and nomenclatural changes. Taxon 39:597-614.
Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
Cascone, S. 2019. Green roof design: State of the art on technology and materials. Sustainability 11:3020. DOI: 10.3390/su11113020.
CONABIO. Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad en Mexico. Sistema Integrado de Información Taxonómica (SIIT) (on-line resource).
Gould, F. W. 1975. The grasses of Texas Note: = Stipa tenuissima
Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Henderson, M. et al. 1987. Declared weeds and alien invader plants in South Africa. Botanical Research Institute, bulletin 413 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
Missouri Botanical Garden. W³Tropicos (on-line resource).
Reyna, J. V. & M. E. Barkworth. 1994. El genero Nassella (Poaceae: Stipeae) en Mexico. Acta Bot. Mex. 26:73.
Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	Argentine needlegrass		1	Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
English	fine-stem needlegrass	as Stipa tenuissima	1	Gould, F. W. 1975. The grasses of Texas Note: = Stipa tenuissima
English	white tussock	as Stipa tenuissima	1	Henderson, M. et al. 1987. Declared weeds and alien invader plants in South Africa. Botanical Research Institute, bulletin 413 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
Afrikaans	witpolgras		2	Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Swedish	svansfjädergräs		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango	e.	Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Zacatecas		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Aguascalientes		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tlaxcala		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Buenos Aires		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Catamarca		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Córdoba		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Entre Ríos		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	La Pampa		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	La Rioja		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Mendoza		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Río Negro		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	San Juan		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	San Luis		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Santa Cruz		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Santa Fe		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Santiago del Estero		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina	Tucumán		Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Chile
4	Naturalized	Africa	Southern Africa	South Africa
4	Naturalized	Australasia	Australia	Australia
4	Naturalized	Australasia	New Zealand	New Zealand

Native
Northern America

SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango (e.), Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, México, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave]

Southern America

SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina [Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, Entre Ríos, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Río Negro, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán], Chile

Naturalized
Africa

SOUTHERN AFRICA: South Africa

Australasia

AUSTRALIA: Australia
NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand

Reference(s)

Herrera-Arrieta, Y. 2001. Las Gramíneus de Durango
Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico.
Zuloaga, F. O. et al. 1994. Catálogo de la familia Poaceae en la República Argentina. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 47 Note: = Stipa tenuissima Trin.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	shade/shelter	potential, for green roofs	Cascone, S. 2019. Green roof design: State of the art on technology and materials. Sustainability 11:3020. DOI: 10.3390/su11113020.
Weed			Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Weed			Henderson, L. 2001. Alien weeds and invasive plants: a complete guide to declared weeds and invaders in South Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute, Handbook 12
Weed		as Stipa tenuissima	Henderson, M. et al. 1987. Declared weeds and alien invader plants in South Africa. Botanical Research Institute, bulletin 413 Note: as Stipa tenuissima

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=402094. Accessed 12 May 2026.