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Leymus cinereus
Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) Á. Löve
Basin Wildrye, Great Basin Lyme Grass, Great Basin Wildrye
Poaceae (Grass Family)
Synonym(s): Aneurolepidium piperi, Elymus cinereus, Elymus cinereus var. pubens, Elymus condensatus var. pubens, Elymus piperi
USDA Symbol: LECI4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
Much like common rye grass, this tall, robust, cool-season grass grows in bunches often 1 ft. or more across. The leaves are flat and 1-3 ft. long. There is a single, erect, dense seed head, 5-8 in. long, at the end of each 2-8 ft. culm. Great Basin lyme grass is a short-lived perennial.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Grass/Grass-like
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Caryopsis
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MN , MT , NE , NM , NV , OR , UT , WA , WYCanada: BC , SK
Native Distribution: B.C. to Sask., s. to s. CA & NM
Native Habitat: River banks; ravines; moist or dry slopes & plains
Growing Conditions
Water Use: HighLight Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Dry to moist, sandy soils.
Conditions Comments: This grass tolerates salt and drought and adapts to wet winters and dry summers. It is good for binding sandy, loose soils.
Propagation
Description: Sow seed.Seed Treatment: Seeds germinate without treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | UPL | UPL | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, SallySearch More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1995 VOL. 12, NO.3 - Explore the Big Bend With the Wildflower Center, Education Director\'s Report, T...Additional resources
USDA: Find Leymus cinereus in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Leymus cinereus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Leymus cinereus
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-25Research By: TWC Staff