small-leaved bent grass, Agrostis microphylla, May–June, Native

One of four native annuals on our tour, occasional in serpentine, along the coast, and wet places where water has stood in spring. Walk out Trail 9 to the serpentine/chert contact where it grows with meadow barley, as well Road F just north of its intersection with Trail 9, on areas of especially thin serpentine soil, with other native annuals Vulpia microstachys and Deschampsia danthonioides. Look for the short grass with a dense, cylindrical flower head of single-flowered spikelets.
Illustration from Jepson Manual.
CalPhotos images of Agrostis microphylla herbarium vouchers by Steve Matson.

Name: Greek for pasture | small-leaved