''Elymus trachycaulus'' is a species of
wild rye Wild rye is a common name used for several grasses. Wild ryes belong to any of three genera:
* '' Elymus'' (wheatgrasses)
* ''Leymus
''Leymus'' is a genus of plants in the grass family Poaceae (Gramineae). It is widespread across Europe, Asia, ...
known by the common name slender wheatgrass. It is native to much of North America. It grows in widely varied habitats from northern Canada to Mexico, but is absent from most of the southeastern United States.
It is variable in appearance, but generally bears a very narrow, linear inflorescence of spikelets appressed against the stem. There are three subspecies, two very widespread and one which is limited to
Greenland
Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is t ...
.
Habitat
Slender wheatgrass (''Elymus trachycaulus'') grows in a wide variety of dry to mesic habitats. The species can also tolerate higher salinity in the soil, making it easier to grow in more diverse habitats. This cultivar can be established in a high-saline habitat over other grass cultivars. "Salt-tolerant, perennial forage crops capable of establishing on saline soils will provide protection against erosion, compete with weeds, utilize excess soil moisture, and provide forage for animals."
Along with saline-stress tolerance, slender wheatgrass can also successfully grow in either shallow or deep soils. Generally individuals will persist between 5 and 10 years and produce a substantial seed count.
[Perryman, B. L., Laycock, W. A., Koch, D. W. "Investigation of Herbaceous Species Adapted to Snowfence Areas". Journal of Range Management. 53(2000): 371-375.]
References
External links
Jepson Manual TreatmentPhoto gallery
trachycaulus
Bunchgrasses of North America
Native grasses of California
Grasses of the United States
Grasses of Canada
Flora of the California desert regions
Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)
{{Pooideae-stub