Purple Needlegrrass seeds were boiled whole to eat and also pounded into a meal for cooking (Strike, p. 150). 

Purple Needlegrass, also known by the scientific name, Stipa pulchra, became the California State Grass in 2004. 

Information on growing Purple Needlegrass can be found on Calscape here. Purple Needlegrass helsp suppress invasive plants and support our endemic oak trees. It also attracts insects, birds, and mammals.