Annual grassland is an herbaceous plant community usually dominated by non-native annual grasses such as wild oat (Avena), brome (Bromus) grasses, and wild barley (Hordeum) species.

Brome - Bromus - Non-Native

Barbed Goatgrass - Aegilops triuncialis -  Non-native 

(Commonly known and infamous for plaguing dogs by burrowing into their paws or noses.)
 

 Medusa Head - Taeniantherum caput-medusae - Non-native

Native grassland is dominated by a mixture of annual and perennial grasses such as small fescue (Vulpia microstachys), purples needlegrass (Nasella pulchra), nodding needlegrass (Nasella cernua), and Small-flower Melicgrass (Melica imperfecta).

 

California fescue - Festuca californica - Native to California
 

Small-flower Melicgrass - Melica imperfecta - Native to California
 

Purple needlegrass - Stipa pulchra - Native to California

Serpentine (bunchgrass) grassland occurs on soils derived from serpentine and generally has less overall vegetation cover. Bunchgrasses typically occur in patches and are primarily dominated by medusa head, goatgrass (Aegilops triuncialis) and foxtail brome (Bromus madritensis). However many different flowers also grow in our Serpentine Grasslands  

Two carpellate western flax, Twocarpel dwarf flax - Hesperolinon bicarpellatum - Native and endemic to California
 

Fairy Fan or Brewer's clarkia - Clarkia breweri - Native and endemic to California
 

Clara Hunt's milk vetch - Astragalus claranus - Native and Threatened in California

Silky balsamroot - Balsamorhiza sericea - Native and Threatened in California

The western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) are a few examples of the variety of reptiles found in grassland. Mammals typically found in grassland habitats include the black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi), western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis), and coyote (Canis latrans). Grassland provide breeding habitats for birds including the western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis), loggerhead shrike (Lanis ludovicianus), California horned lark (Eremophila alpestris actia) and the western bluebird (Sialia mexicana).

The primary ecosystem functions of grassland in the County are:

• Maintain water quality through soil retention and by filtering out sediment and nutrients from run-off
• Prevent flooding and minimize channel erosion by slowing surface runoff
• Increase infiltration to groundwater
• Provide habitat
• Provide fodder for grazing livestock
• Provide opportunities for recreation, including but not limited to hunting, bird-watching, hiking, horseback riding, and OHV use

These functions are enhanced when the key characteristics of grassland habitats are comprised of high-cover herbaceous vegetation, a low-cover of woody vegetation, and low to moderate levels of disturbance.