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| ## thurber's needlegrass {#thurbers-needlegrass .Title-Header}        |
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| *Achnatherum* *thurberianum* (Piper) Barkworth                        |
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| Plant Symbol = ACTH7                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS Idaho State Office

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Range Plant Leaflet 69. Oregon State University. Cooperative Extension
Service. Prepared by: J. Powell.

##### Alternate Names {#alternate-names .Header-3}

*Stipa thurberiana; Stipa occidentalis*

##### Uses {#uses .Header-3}

Grazing/Livestock- Thurber's needlegrass begins growth early in the
spring, goes dormant in early summer and may green-up in fall if soil
moisture is adequate. It is considered preferred forage in spring prior
to seed-awn development for cattle and horses. It is considered
acceptable forage for all classes of livestock throughout the rest of
the year following seed drop.

Wildlife- It is preferred forage for elk in spring and considered
desirable forage for elk the rest of the year. It is desirable forage
for deer and antelope in spring.

Erosion Control/Reclamation- It is an effective grass in preventing wind
and water erosion on sandy to loamy soils. It can be used in seeding
mixtures for revegetation of sites disturbed by mining activities.

##### Status {#status .Header-3}

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species).

#####  {#section .Header-3}

##### Description {#description .Header-3}

*General*: Thurber's needlegrass is a native, cool-season grass common
to the semiarid regions of the Intermountain West. It is a perennial
bunchgrass, 1- 2 feet tall with fine, narrow in rolled leaves about 6-10
inches long. The inflorescence is 3- 4 inches long, narrow and somewhat
purplish in color. The seed is about ¼- inch long, sharp pointed with a
twice bent, 2- inch long awn. Tiny hairs cover the seed and lower
segments of the awn.

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="1.8743055555555554in"
height="3.7305555555555556in"}

Intermountain Flora - drawn by Jeanne R. Janish.

University of Washington Press.

*Distribution*: This grass is found in the semiarid Intermountain West
from southern Idaho to Washington Columbia Basin and south to eastern
California and northern Nevada and Utah.

*Habitat*: Thurber's needlegrass is an important plant in semiarid
locations in the northern Intermountain West. In the semiarid regions of
Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and Utah it is found in
association with sagebrush, saltbush, horsebrush, bitterbrush,
winterfat, Sandberg bluegrass, Indian ricegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass
and thickspike wheatgrass plant communities.

##### Adaptation {#adaptation .Header-3}

Thurber's needlegrass is very drought and cold tolerant and prefers well
drained fine sandy loams to coarse gravelly loam to silt loam soils. It
is not tolerant of shade and saline or sodic soil conditions. It is less
resistant to fire than many other bunchgrasses.

It is most commonly found in 7- 16 inch precipitation zones and is often
the dominant grass in areas receiving 10- inches or less mean annual
precipitation.

Its elevation range is most common from 3500 to 6500 feet, but it has
been found at lower elevations.

##### Establishment {#establishment .Header-3}

This species has been found to have low levels of seed dormancy as
compared to close relatives such as needle-and-thread and Indian
ricegrass. This species has low seedling vigor and competes poorly
against annual and more vigorous perennial grass species. Seed should be
planted into firm weed-free seedbeds in late fall as a dormant planting
or in very early spring. Seed should be planted about ¼- ½- inch deep.

Native seed mixtures should specify \"Source Identified\" seed from
locations within 500 miles of the planting site.

There is an average of 3 seeds per foot squared at a 1 pound seeding
rate. The recommend full seeding rate is 7 pounds per acre. Seed
mixtures should specify a percentage of this rate.

##### Management {#management .Header-3}

Thurber's needlegrass begins growth in early spring, flowers in late May
to early June and matures seed in July. Plants go dormant in early to
mid-summer and may green-up in fall if soil moisture is adequate.

It is considered preferred forage in spring prior to seed-awn
development and acceptable forage the rest of the year following seed
drop. Animals avoid grazing Thurber's needlegrass as seed matures. The
sharp pointed callus and awns can be injurious to eyes, ears, nose,
tongue and throat. Otherwise, it cures well and provides fair to good
winter forage.

It generally decreases under grazing pressure. It needs to set seed in
order to establish new plants and deferred rotation grazing systems are
recommended.

##### Pests and Potential Problems {#pests-and-potential-problems .Header-3}

It is not known to be vulnerable to insects or other pests.

##### Environmental Concerns {#environmental-concerns .Header-3}

Thurber's needlegrass spreads via seed. It is not considered to be
\"weedy\" or an invasive species, but it can spread into adjoining
vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental
conditions. Its rate of spread is slow.

It may hybridize with closely related species, Indian ricegrass creating
the hybrid *Stipa bloomeri*.

##### Seed Production {#seed-production .Header-3}

Seed production of Thurber's needlegrass has been difficult under
cultivated conditions.

Row spacing of 24- 36 inches under irrigation or high precipitation
(\>16 inches annual precipitation) to 36 inches under dryland conditions
are recommended. Seeding rates for seed production range from 2.9- 4.3
(48- 36 inch rows) pound PLS per acre on dryland to 4.3 (36 inch rows)
pound PLS per acre under irrigated conditions.

It should be seeded in locations where weeds are well controlled.
Thurber's needlegrass seedlings are slow to establish and are therefore
vulnerable to mechanical (wheel and foot traffic) and chemical damage.
Wait until the 3- 5 leaf stage before applying herbicides at a low rate
(bromoxynil according to label) or clipping for weed control.
Cultivation between rows will be needed for weed control and to maintain
row culture.

Seed fields are productive for about 3- 5 years. Field moisture during
the fall, soil fertility, and plant re-growth determine the yield the
succeeding year.

Estimated average production of 50- 75 pounds per acre can be expected
under dryland conditions in 16- inch plus rainfall areas. Estimated
average production of 100- 150 pounds per acre can be expected under
irrigated conditions.

Harvesting can be accomplished by direct combining in the hard-dough
stage or by windrowing followed by combining. Windrowing may help ensure
a more complete threshing. Windrowing also reduces the risk of loss of
seed from wind. Seed is generally harvested from mid July to mid August.
Seed must be dried immediately after combining (moisture content should
be 12 percent in bins/15 percent in sacks).

Seed should be stored in plastic woven sacks -- not cotton or burlap
sacks. Sharp seeds will become caught in cotton and burlap fabric.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials .Header-3}

No releases are presently available. Contact your local Natural
Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service)
office for more information. Look in the phone book under "United States
Government." The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading "Department of Agriculture."

#####  {#section-1 .Header-3}

##### The USDA Forest Service is currently working on a selection of this species. {#the-usda-forest-service-is-currently-working-on-a-selection-of-this-species. .Header-3}

##### References {#references .Header-3}

Alderson, J. and W. C. Sharp 1994. *Grass varieties in the United
States.* Agriculture Handbook No. 170. USDA, SCS, Washington, DC.

Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren and J.L. Reveal. 1977.
*Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West*, U.S.A.
The New York Botanical Garden.

Hitchcock, A.S. (rev. A. Chase). 1950. *Manual of the grasses of the
United States*. USDA Misc. Publ. No. 200. Washington, DC. 1950.

Monsen, S.B., R. Stevens and N.L. Shaw. 2004. *Restoring western ranges
and wildlands.* USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station.
General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-136. 884p.

Ogle, D. G., L. St. John, M. Stannard and L. Holzworth. 2006. Technical
Note 24: *Grass, grass-like, forb, legume, and woody species for the
intermountain west*. USDA-NRCS, Boise, ID. 42p.

Oregon State University. Cooperative Extension Service. Range Plant
Leaflet 69. Prepared by: J. Powell. 2p.

USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database, Version 061010.
[(http://plants.usda.gov)](http://plants.usda.gov/). [National Plant
Data Center](http://npdc.usda.gov/npdc/index.html), Baton Rouge, LA
70874-4490 USA.

##### Prepared By {#prepared-by .Header-3}

*Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA-NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, ID

*Loren St. John*

*USDA-NRCS,* Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID

*Derek Tilley*

USDA-NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, ID

*Dr. Thomas A. Jones*

USDA-ARS, Forage & Range Research Laboratory, Logan, UT

##### Species Coordinator {#species-coordinator .Header-3}

*Daniel G. Ogle*

USDA-NRCS, Idaho State Office, Boise, ID

##### Edited: 05oct06dgo; 09may06djt; 10may06ls; 10may06taj; 10oct06jsp {#edited-05oct06dgo-09may06djt-10may06ls-10may06taj-10oct06jsp .Header-4}

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,
large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
TDD).*

*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.*

*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
Service](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/civilrights/).*