Scientific Family
Poaceae
Synonyms
Agropyron molle, Agropyron smithii, Elymus smithii, Elytrigia smithii
Other common names
bluestem
bluestem wheatgrass
Plant type
Grasses
Riparian
No
Grass Description
Origin
Native
Season
Cool
Found on dry alkaline flats, slopes and in open ponderosa pine forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
9000
Similar species
Leymus triticoides
General Description
Stiff tall grass, often forming mats via creeping rhizomes. Leaves waxy and bluish-green in color. Seedhead is a tight spike, also bluish-green in color. Greens up in spring and starts to flower in early June.
Erect to 36 inches. Blades mostly basal, prominent veins on upper surface. Auricles < 1/16 inch, ligule membranous. Seedheads unbranched, 2 to 12 spikelets of 5 to 12 florets; upper glume exceeds lower. L. triticoides,, 2 spikelets per node.
Grass type
Perennial mat or sod-forming
Rhizomes
Yes
Stolons
No
Clump Diameter 2 ft or more
No
Bushy - highly branched
No
Height with Seedheads
24 inches or more
Seedhead Structure
Unbranched
Seedhead droops
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Flower Characteristics
Flowers per Spikelet
Multi-flowered
Spikelets One-Sided
No
Awns
Less than 1/4 inch
Three Awns
No
Awns bent
No
Flower and Seedhead Notes
Seedhead is a spike 2 to 6 inches long with one fertile spikelet per node, occasionally in sterile pairs at lower nodes. Each spikelet has 5 to 12 florets.
Vegetative Characteristics
Blade is hairy
No
Blade margins white
No
Blade cross-section
Flat
Involute – rolled inward on upper surface
Stiff thin blades are 4 to 10 inches long. Upper surface is furrowed with 7 to 14 ridges, blades taper to a slender point and are rough on top and smooth below. Blades are covered with a waxy bluish-green coating.
Sheath is hairy
Yes
Tufts of hair top of sheath or collar
No
Ligule
Membranous
Auricles
Yes
Good for all classes of livestock, fair for wildlife. Cures well, making good dormant season forage.