Elymus orcuttianus Vasey

Scientific Name: Elymus orcuttianus Vasey


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Liliopsida / Commelinidae / Cyperales / Poaceae / Gramineae / Leymus Hochst./ Elymus orcuttianus Vasey

<i>Elymus orcuttianus</i> Vasey
General Information
Usda SymbolELOR2
GroupMonocot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsGraminoid
Native LocationsELOR2

Plant Guide

BEARDLESS

WILDRYE Leymus triticoides (Buckl.) Pilger Plant Symbol = LETR5 Contributed by: USDA NRCS California State Office and Lockeford Plant Materials Center, California

Alternate Names

Creeping wildrye

Uses

Beardless wildrye is used for soil stabilization on channel, stream and river slopes and restoration of roadside, riparian and rangeland areas. It is also used for forage or cover on wet or wet-saline-alkaline soils. This includes pastureland; saline-affected, irrigated cropland; and dryland, saline-seep discharge areas. In good soils, roots may go down 10 ft. It also lays flat during high water flow periods, thus allowing full water flow while still protecting the streambank. It provides high quality waterfowl and upland game nesting habitat. This species’ flood tolerance is excellent. It is found in flood plains that receive prolonged inundation Ethnobotanic uses: Beardless wildrye seed was used by Native Americans for food.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

General: Grass Family (Poaceae). Beardless wildrye is a cool-season, perennial, sod-forming native grass. It is a long grass that is typically tall and strongly rhizomatous. The stems are often smooth, but can be hairy. Leaf blades are green to blue-green and 2.5-4 mm wide with a slightly rough upper surface. Robert Mohlenbrock @ USDA NRCS PLANTS Database

Distribution

Beardless wildrye is distributed at low and medium elevations from Montana to Washington and south to west Texas and California. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Adaptation

This grass grows on mostly heavy soils in riparian areas, bottomlands, valleys, foothills, mountain flats and meadows from coastal marshes to high elevations.

Establishment

Beardless wildrye can be established by seed, sod or rhizomes.

Management

If managed properly, it will develop into large patches or colonies, but cultivation restricts it. It can be valuable forage in certain areas, especially on meadows that become dry, where it is grazed through most of the summer. It resists trampling and recovers well from grazing. At lower elevations it is coarser for grazing than annuals. It will also tolerate mowing well, especially if mowed late in the growing season and if not mowed too short. It is also fire tolerant. After mowing or burning it begins green-up in the late summer if deep soil moisture is adequate. In spite of delayed germination of up to one month and poor seedling vigor, it can compete sufficiently with weeds and annual grasses to dominate a site in the second year.

Pests and Potential Problems

None , Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Elymus orcuttianus Vasey.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Beardless wildrye seed matures in late spring to early summer. Most wild ecotypes flower but do not produce seed. If viable seed is present, it can be collected for 4-20 weeks. The seed does not shatter as easily as many other species. There are between 110,000 and 130,000 seeds/lb. and if planted at a rate of 1 lb./acre there would be approximately 2.8 seeds/square foot. Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) ‘Rio’ Cultivar- This cultivar was selected at the NRCS Plant Materials Center, Lockeford, California. It was collected in 1973 from a native stand in Stratford, Kings County, CA. Seed and rhizomes were harvested from test plots at the Lockeford Plant Materials Center and used for testing throughout the Mediterranean climate in California. It demonstrated superior seed viability and initial sod establishment in comparison with about 12 other California native collections. ‘Shoshone’ Cultivar- This cultivar was collected in 1958 from a stand at Riverton, WY fairgrounds. The stand was possibly a seeded stand established in the 1940s from an unknown source. It is an exceptionally leafy, fine stemmed, high forage producer; rhizomes especially vigorous, extending 1.8 m in one season; leaves broad, lax, and dark green. Comparatively high seed production for this species; seed plump and heavy. Shoshone is used primarily for forage, stabilization, or cover on wet or wet-saline-alkaline soils. This included pastureland; saline-affected, irrigated cropland; and dryland saline-seep discharge areas. Seed dormancy requires fall dormant planting in moist seedbed. Contact your local Natural Resources

Conservation

Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Fire ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Drought ToleranceHigh
Drought ToleranceHigh
Drought ToleranceHigh
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fire ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum110
Frost Free Days, Minimum150
Frost Free Days, Minimum90
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
Anaerobic ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Moisture UseHigh
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-43
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Precipitation, Minimum7
Precipitation, Minimum7
Precipitation, Minimum7
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Maximum24
Moisture UseHigh
Moisture UseLow
pH, Maximum9.0
pH, Maximum9.0
pH, Maximum9.0
pH, Minimum6.0
pH, Minimum6.0
pH, Minimum6.6
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim11000
Planting Density per Acre, Minim3000
Planting Density per Acre, Minim3000
Planting Density per Acre, Minim3000
Precipitation, Maximum60


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring, Summer, Fall
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationErect
Shape and OrientationErect
Foliage ColorGreen
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ColorYellow
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
BloatNone
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring, Summer, Fall
Active Growth PeriodSpring, Summer, Fall
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
After Harvest Regrowth RateModerate
BloatNone
BloatNone
Resprout AbilityNo
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
C:N RatioMedium
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
LifespanLong
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Leaf RetentionNo
LifespanLong
LifespanLong
Foliage TextureCoarse
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Resprout AbilityNo
Resprout AbilityNo
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage TextureCoarse
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormRhizomatous
Growth FormRhizomatous
Growth FormRhizomatous
Growth RateRapid
Growth RateRapid
Growth RateRapid
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo


Reproduction

Seed per Pound170304
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SprigsYes
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Seed per Pound170304
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Seed per Pound170304
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seedling VigorLow
Seedling VigorLow
Seedling VigorLow
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateRapid
Vegetative Spread RateRapid
Vegetative Spread RateRapid
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceLow
Fruit/Seed AbundanceLow
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSpring
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Palatable Graze AnimalMedium
Palatable Graze AnimalMedium
Palatable Graze AnimalMedium
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialMedium
Protein PotentialMedium
Protein PotentialMedium
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalMedium

<i>Elymus orcuttianus</i> Vasey

<i>Elymus orcuttianus</i> Vasey

<i>Elymus orcuttianus</i> Vasey

[Plant Index] [Site Map]