Elymus glaucus
Elymus glaucus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Pooideae |
Genus: | Elymus |
Species: | E. glaucus
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Binomial name | |
Elymus glaucus |
Elymus glaucus is a species of wild rye known by the common name blue wild rye. This grass is native to North America from Alaska to New York to northern Mexico. It is a common and widespread species of wild rye.
Description
This is a perennial bunch grass growing small, narrow tufts of several erect stems which exceed 50 cm in height and may approach 150 cm (up to 5'). It has a thick, fibrous root system, sometimes with rhizomes, the stems may form stolons. It has flat leaves each up to a centimeter wide at the base and rapidly narrowing to a point.[1]
The tip of the stem is occupied by a narrow, pointed inflorescence many centimeters long made up of a few spikelets. Each spikelet is one to one and a half centimeters long, not counting an awn which may be two or three centimeters in length. Common native grass associates in the far west coastal prairies are Danthonia californica, Deschampsia caespitosa, Festuca idahoensis and Nassella pulchra.[2]
Ecology
It is a larval host to the woodland skipper.[3]
References
Notes
- C. Michael Hogan. 2009. "Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra)" Globaltwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg
- Jepson Manual. 1993. Jepson Manual Treatment: Elymus glaucus
- Kathleen A. Johnson. 1999. Elymus glaucus
External links
- Calflora Database: Elymus glaucus (blue wildrye)
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2) Treatment of Elymus glaucus
- Photo gallery
- Elymus (plant)
- Bunchgrasses of North America
- Grasses of the United States
- Grasses of Canada
- Grasses of Mexico
- Native grasses of California
- Native grasses of the Great Plains region
- Native grasses of Oklahoma
- Native grasses of Texas
- Flora of the Northwestern United States
- Flora of the United States
- Flora of the Southwestern United States
- Flora of Western Canada
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of New Mexico
- Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the California Coast Ranges
- Natural history of the Central Valley (California)
- Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
- Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
- Natural history of the Transverse Ranges
- Pooideae stubs