Scientific Family
Poaceae
Synonyms
Agropyron caninoides, A. caninum, A. novae-angliae, A. repens var. tenerum, A. richardsonii , A. trachycaulum and more.
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
Yes
Grass Description
Origin
Native
Season
Warm
Found in open moist meadows, shaded canyons, along streams and on forested slopes. May also be found in disturbed areas.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Disturbed Areas
Low elevation
3500
High elevation
9000
General Description
Perennial grass grows in small tufts or dense clumps with slender stems 1 to 5 feet tall. Plant ascending to erect; with or without rhizomes and sometimes stoloniferous. Leaves usually basally concentrated. Widely used to revegitate disturbed land.
Seedheads slender; spikelets towards branch ends; glumes nearly as long as the spikelet. Anthers 1 to 2.5 mm; most inflorescence internodes < 15 mm. Varies in the presence or absence of rhizomes, length and density of the seedhead and awn development.
Grass type
Perennial bunchgrass
Rhizomes
Yes
Stolons
Yes
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
Yes
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
Greater than 36 inches
Seedhead Structure
Unbranched
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
1/4 inch to 1 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes
Seedhead is a spike up to 10 inches long with 1 spikelet per node. Spikelets are appressed against the stem and there is more than one floret per spikelet.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade is hairy
Yes
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Flat
Involute – rolled inward on upper surface
Leaves are flat to involute, usually straight and ascending. Leaf blades may be smooth or hairy. Stems are thin and smooth.
Sheath is hairy
No
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Membranous
Auricles
No
Slender wheatgrass is very palatable and grazed by wildlife and livestock. It is rated as good in energy value but poor in protein value.