''Elymus virginicus'', or Virginia wildrye, is a perennial

bunchgrass Tussock grasses or bunch grasses are a group of grass species in the family Poaceae. They usually grow as singular plants in clumps, tufts, hummocks, or bunches, rather than forming a sod or lawn, in meadows, grasslands, and prairies. As perenni ...

located in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United States, Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography an ...

and the eastern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. Virginia wild rye is one of the few cool season native grasses found in the east Texas area. It is extremely palatable to livestock and will decrease without proper grazing management. It spreads via seed and tillering. It can be confused with Canadian wild rye which is a more robust plant with longer awns. It should be cut early in the season when used for hay to avoid ergot contamination. Northern Missouri Germplasm Virginia wild rye was released in 1999 by the Missouri Plant Material Center for use in northern Missouri.

Description

* Cool season * Perennial * Bunch grass * Variable color, green - silver blue * 2 – 4 feet tall * Seed head has dense, medium length awns * Seed head 2 - 6 inches in length ;Uses * Pasture and hay * Restoration * Erosion control * Wildlife habitat * Buffer strips ;Key characteristics * Seed head remains straight at maturity * Short, membranous, rigid ligule * Densely awned, wheat like head * No hair on stems or leaves * Color variable, green waxy, blue-green or silver * Flowers May - July

Distribution

Virginia wildrye is found throughout the eastern 2/3rds of the United States and all of the southern, Canadian provinces. It is typically found in moister sites than Canadian wildrye, and will tolerate more shading. It prefers heavy, fertile soils, but is extremely adaptable.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5368495 virginicus Bunchgrasses of North America Grasses of the United States Flora of the United States Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus