Hairy Wildrye
Elymus hirsutus J. Presl
overview
Perennial grass, 0.5 to 1.5 m tall forming small clumps. Leaves broad and flat with rough surfaces and slightly rolled in edges, claw-like, clasping auricles and short (1 mm) collar-like ligules. Inflorescence flexible drooping spike with two stalkless spikelets at each node. Spikelets with two or more florets. Lemmas fringed with long hairs with awns up to 2 cm long. Often hybridizes with E. glaucus (Pojar and MacKinnon, 1998).
family
Poaceae
ecological setting
Western North American grass most common in coastal regions. Occurs in boreal, cool temperate and cool mesothermal climates. Occurrence decreases with increasing continentality (Klinka et al., 1989).
soil texture
Moder and mull humus (Klinka et al., 1989).
nutrients
Nitrogen rich soils (Klinka et al., 1989).
moisture regime
Moist to wet (Klinka et al., 1989).
shade tolerance
Light sun to shade (Klinka et al., 1989).
successional status
Climax associated with broad-leaf tree species on water-receiving sites such as floodplains, wet meadows, avalanche tracks and mountain gullies (Klinka et al., 1989).
site rehabilitation
wildlife
Forage for both livestock and wildlife.
landscaping
Use in borders, along meadow edges and in containers.
collection and abstraction
Harvest by hand and clean by gently de-awning with a brush machine or air screen machine (Link, 1993).
seed storage
Store up to five years at low humidity and low temperatures (Link, 1993).
fruit seed dormancy treatment
No dormancy treatment required. Good results from both fall sown (germination in March) and summer sown (night 12º C/day 20-25º C) (S. Bastin, personal communication).
vegetative propagation
Good success with plant division in early spring or fall; an excellent way to increase stocks.
additional info and photos
For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.