Neostapfia colusana (Colusa Grass)
Credit: Daniel Toews
about the species
Colusa grass, Neostapfia colusana, is a California endemic plant restricted to the Great Valley ecoregion and grows in vernal pool habitat. It is a vernal pool specialist and is sensitive to soil type. It is also known to have an acrid smell. Colusa grass is listed both in California and federally as threatened and endangered, and it is considered to be a rare plant.
why species was selected
Vernal pool habitat is highly fragmented and under threat of further development. The California Natural Diversity Database lists only 48 populations of this plant with 18 believed to be extirpated. Understanding standing variation, gene flow, and inbreeding rates across the range of this threatened, endangered, endemic plant will provide new avenues for conservation and protection.
