Difference between revisions of "User:Flezac19"

From Puget Prairie Plants
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''Elymus glaucus'', also called blue wildrye. [[Other names: (English, First People's, etc.)]] is a native perennial bunchgrass found in the Puget Prairie ecosystem, belonging to poaceae, the grass family.  
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''Elymus trachycaulus'', also called Slender Wheat Grass. [[Other names: (English, First People's, etc.)]] is a native perennial bunchgrass found in the Puget Prairie ecosystem, belonging to poaceae, the grass family.  
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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*'''Genus''' Elymus L. – wildrye <br>
 
*'''Genus''' Elymus L. – wildrye <br>
 
*'''Species''' Elymus glaucus Buckley – blue wildrye <br>
 
*'''Species''' Elymus glaucus Buckley – blue wildrye <br>
*'''Subspecies'''  ''Elymus glaucus'' Buckley ssp. ''glaucus'' – blue wildrye
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*'''Subspecies'''  ''Elymus trachycaulus'' (Link) Gould ex Shinners slender wheatgrass
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
  
Blue wildrye is a large perennial bunchgrass. It is very tall (up to 5 feet) with an upright growth habit and just a few stems per plant. It is similar in stature and growth habit to slender wheatgrass. The leaf blades are thin and flat, ranging from 4-12mm (.2-.5 inch) wide. Leaf color changes from green to blue green, with a white waxy coating. Frosts induce dormancy.
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Slender wheatgrass is a perennial, cool-season, short-lived, coarse, tufted bunchgrass. Leaves are from 3 to 13 inches (8-33 cm) long and 0.25 to 0.5 inch (0.6-1.3 cm) wide, with basal leaves longer than upper leaves. The culms are erect, ranging from 6 to 48 inches (8-120 cm) in height, and bear terminal, erect spikes. The root system is dense, consisting of coarse and fine fibrous roots which extend beyond 12 inches (30 cm) in depth.  One author has reported this species as having short rhizomes.  The dense root system makes this species moderately drought tolerant.
  
[[Image:220px-Elymus glaucus.jpg|250px|thumb|right|''Elymus glaucus'' in Teton Co., Wyoming, USA <br/>
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[[Image:1418_ELTR_JeanPawek2011.jpeg|250px|thumb|right|''Elymus trachycaulus'' by Jean Pawek, 2011.  
Date 4 September 2010 <br/>
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Author: Matt Lavin <br/>
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<br/>
 
<br/>
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.]]
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This is a file from the CalPhotos Photo Database, where the author generously designated it to be freely used.]]
  
 
==Bloom Period==
 
==Bloom Period==
  
May-July
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July-August
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
  
Blue wildrye is found from California to Alaska and also the Great Plains and northern Mexico. Check a reputable database for current distribution.  
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Slender wheatgrass is widely distributed across North America.  Its range extends from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and western Mexico.
  
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
  
Open areas, native prairie, chaparral, woodland and forest. Blue wildrye is tolerant of partial shade and soil textures ranging from loam to clay, moist to dry, and well-drained soils. Low moisture use – high drought tolerance.  
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Semiarid ranges, in temperate and boreal forests, and in subalpine, alpine, and subarctic habitat.
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Grows in soil textures that are dry to moist, fine and medium-textured, tolerates silt and clay but does best on sandy loam. pH 5.6-9.0 – high salinity tolerance. Low moisture use – high drought tolerance. This grass is shade intolerant.  
  
This plant has demonstrated moderate sensitivity to saline soils.
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Slender wheatgrass is a pioneer species in primary and secondary succession.
Its successional Status is that blue wildrye is typically favored by disturbance.  
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==Uses==
 
==Uses==
  
'''Site Rehabilitation''': A desirable species for use in erosion control. Blue wildrye is good for streambank restoration, meadow and swale seeding. It is also excellent for reseeding burned or disturbed areas in oak woodland or forest. Blue wildrye is not recommended to be seeded alone in revegetation plantings, and it should not make up more than 50% of the seed mix.
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'''Site Rehabilitation''': Slender wheatgrass is recommended for inclusion in reclamation mixes because of its good seedling vigor and establishment qualities. It is also somewhat tolerant of saline soils.  Slender wheatgrass seedlings are vigorous and provide good initial plant cover in seed mixtures. Plants tend to be short-lived, thus giving other plants a chance to become established.  
  
'''Wildlife''': Blue wildrye can also provide excellent wildlife habitat for mammals, birds, and waterfowl. It provides good forage early in the season, but later, may be too coarse and stemmy.
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'''Wildlife''': High palatability for browsing and grazing animals. Grazed by sage grouse, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn, various rodents, and all classes of livestock.  The seeds are eaten by various seed predators.  
  
'''Landscaping''': The attractive, blue-green foliage adds value to commercial landscaping projects.
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==Propagation==
  
'''First Nations''': Blue wildrye has similar uses as creeping wild rye, primarily as a cereal grain. It is less desirable for basketry as the nodes are thick, but this does not exclude its use in some baskets. Similar to creeping wildrye, there may be some ceremonial uses of blue wildrye.
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Seeds should be planted in a firm, weed-free seed bed. Dormant fall planting is preferred for dryland seedings made in areas receiving less than 16 inches mean annual precipitation. Areas receiving over 16 inches of mean annual precipitation and fields that are irrigated can be seeded in late fall or early spring. (Note: dormant fall seedings are more prone to be negatively affected by soil crusting and mid to late spring seedings are more prone to drying out).
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Seeds should be drilled to a depth of ¼ to ¾ inch at a Pure Live Seed (PLS) rate of approximately 6 lb PLS/acre for field plantings.  
  
==Propagation==
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For critical area plantings, turf applications and broadcast plantings the PLS seeding rate should be 1.5 to 2.0 times the drill seeding rate.
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For native seed mixtures, limit slender wheatgrass to 1 to 2 pounds PLS/acre because higher rates effect the establishment of slower developing native species.
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Fertilizer is not recommended for establishment, as it usually benefits the weeds. On disturbed sites fertilizer should be applied according to soil test results.
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Plant at a rate of approximately 3.4 pounds PLS/acre or 25 to 30 seeds per linear foot of drill row at 36 inch row spacing.
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For stand establishment, apply 55 lb/acre of 11-55-0 (high phosphorus fertilizer) as a soil amendment prior to planting or during seeding. If planting into grain stubble, after initial seedling establishment, apply 30 lb/acre nitrogen for dryland or 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen for irrigated fields. No additional nitrogen is necessary if planting into summer fallow. Irrigate enough to keep soil moist for establishment and to prevent soil crusting. Seeds should germinate within 8 to 10 days.
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Weeds can be controlled after the 3 to 5 leaf stage with low rates of Bromoxynil. Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using any pesticide. Caution should be exercised when using cultivation on young seedlings because of the possibility of uprooting.
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 +
For established stands, apply 50 lb/acre nitrogen each year in late fall on dryland and 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen in late fall under irrigation.
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 +
On established stands keep soil moisture above fifty percent field capacity during the growth period. Before the flowering stage apply enough water to carry plants through pollination. After pollination, irrigate to recharge the soil profile for seed set.
 +
 
 +
Control weeds chemically (Bromoxynil, Metribuzin, 2,4-D or dicamba), by roguing or mechanical cultivating. 
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Seed yields range from 200 to 400 lb/acre in dryland to 500 to 600 lb/acre under irrigation. Seed should be dried to 12 percent or less moisture prior to storage.  Stands can be expected to survive for 3 to 5 years.
  
see Plant Materials Technical Note No. 17, from USDA in Portland, OR to Natural Resources Conservation Service ([[Media:ElGl USDA Seed Increase.pdf|"Seed Production of Blue Wildrye"]], April 1996)
 
  
 
   
 
   
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=====Image Gallery=====
 
=====Image Gallery=====
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:220px-Elymus glaucus.jpg
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Image:1418_ELTR_JeanPawek2011.jpeg
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Image:

Revision as of 11:51, 14 May 2012

Elymus trachycaulus, also called Slender Wheat Grass. Other names: (English, First People's, etc.) is a native perennial bunchgrass found in the Puget Prairie ecosystem, belonging to poaceae, the grass family.

Taxonomy

  • Kingdom Plantae – Plants
  • Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
  • Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
  • Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
  • Class Liliopsida – Monocotyledons
  • Subclass Commelinidae
  • Order Cyperales
  • Family Poaceae – Grass family
  • Genus Elymus L. – wildrye
  • Species Elymus glaucus Buckley – blue wildrye
  • Subspecies Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners – slender wheatgrass

Description

Slender wheatgrass is a perennial, cool-season, short-lived, coarse, tufted bunchgrass. Leaves are from 3 to 13 inches (8-33 cm) long and 0.25 to 0.5 inch (0.6-1.3 cm) wide, with basal leaves longer than upper leaves. The culms are erect, ranging from 6 to 48 inches (8-120 cm) in height, and bear terminal, erect spikes. The root system is dense, consisting of coarse and fine fibrous roots which extend beyond 12 inches (30 cm) in depth. One author has reported this species as having short rhizomes. The dense root system makes this species moderately drought tolerant.

Elymus trachycaulus by Jean Pawek, 2011.
This is a file from the CalPhotos Photo Database, where the author generously designated it to be freely used.

Bloom Period

July-August

Distribution

Slender wheatgrass is widely distributed across North America. Its range extends from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to North Carolina, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, and western Mexico.

Habitat

Semiarid ranges, in temperate and boreal forests, and in subalpine, alpine, and subarctic habitat. Grows in soil textures that are dry to moist, fine and medium-textured, tolerates silt and clay but does best on sandy loam. pH 5.6-9.0 – high salinity tolerance. Low moisture use – high drought tolerance. This grass is shade intolerant.

Slender wheatgrass is a pioneer species in primary and secondary succession.

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: Slender wheatgrass is recommended for inclusion in reclamation mixes because of its good seedling vigor and establishment qualities. It is also somewhat tolerant of saline soils. Slender wheatgrass seedlings are vigorous and provide good initial plant cover in seed mixtures. Plants tend to be short-lived, thus giving other plants a chance to become established.

Wildlife: High palatability for browsing and grazing animals. Grazed by sage grouse, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, pronghorn, various rodents, and all classes of livestock. The seeds are eaten by various seed predators.

Propagation

Seeds should be planted in a firm, weed-free seed bed. Dormant fall planting is preferred for dryland seedings made in areas receiving less than 16 inches mean annual precipitation. Areas receiving over 16 inches of mean annual precipitation and fields that are irrigated can be seeded in late fall or early spring. (Note: dormant fall seedings are more prone to be negatively affected by soil crusting and mid to late spring seedings are more prone to drying out). Seeds should be drilled to a depth of ¼ to ¾ inch at a Pure Live Seed (PLS) rate of approximately 6 lb PLS/acre for field plantings.

For critical area plantings, turf applications and broadcast plantings the PLS seeding rate should be 1.5 to 2.0 times the drill seeding rate.

For native seed mixtures, limit slender wheatgrass to 1 to 2 pounds PLS/acre because higher rates effect the establishment of slower developing native species.

Fertilizer is not recommended for establishment, as it usually benefits the weeds. On disturbed sites fertilizer should be applied according to soil test results.

Plant at a rate of approximately 3.4 pounds PLS/acre or 25 to 30 seeds per linear foot of drill row at 36 inch row spacing. For stand establishment, apply 55 lb/acre of 11-55-0 (high phosphorus fertilizer) as a soil amendment prior to planting or during seeding. If planting into grain stubble, after initial seedling establishment, apply 30 lb/acre nitrogen for dryland or 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen for irrigated fields. No additional nitrogen is necessary if planting into summer fallow. Irrigate enough to keep soil moist for establishment and to prevent soil crusting. Seeds should germinate within 8 to 10 days.

Weeds can be controlled after the 3 to 5 leaf stage with low rates of Bromoxynil. Be sure to read and follow all label directions when using any pesticide. Caution should be exercised when using cultivation on young seedlings because of the possibility of uprooting.

For established stands, apply 50 lb/acre nitrogen each year in late fall on dryland and 60 to 80 lb/acre nitrogen in late fall under irrigation.

On established stands keep soil moisture above fifty percent field capacity during the growth period. Before the flowering stage apply enough water to carry plants through pollination. After pollination, irrigate to recharge the soil profile for seed set.

Control weeds chemically (Bromoxynil, Metribuzin, 2,4-D or dicamba), by roguing or mechanical cultivating. Seed yields range from 200 to 400 lb/acre in dryland to 500 to 600 lb/acre under irrigation. Seed should be dried to 12 percent or less moisture prior to storage. Stands can be expected to survive for 3 to 5 years.



Seed

Abbreviation: ELGL

Seed sample from: 2010

Average Measurement including husk and awn: 29.8 x 1.2 x 0.9

Measurement Range including husk and awn: L: 22 – 35, W: 1 – 1.5, D: 0.5 – 1

Average Measurement without husk or awn: 5.3 x 1 x 1

Measurement Range without husk or awn: L: 5 - 5.5, W: 0.9 – 1.1, D: 0.9 – 1

Features

Shape: Awn is straight and is 5 – 6 times as long as seed body. Awn is very finely toothed.

Other Structures:Inner seed has deep longitudinal sulcus on one side and a few fine longitudinal lines on the opposite seed face.

Color: Husks off white to tan, papillose with a slight sheen. Hilium is a darker brown color. Seed is tan at the ends, and blue to green in the middle.

Surface:Seed surface is smooth and matte.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical ELGL lat.png

Longitudinal Cross Section: elliptical ELGL long.png

References

  • USDA, NRCS. 2012. Elymus glaucus Buckley ssp. glaucus – blue wildrye USDA PLANTS Profile, PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=elgl, 7 May 2012). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. Retrieved 05/14/2012.


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