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CANADA WILD RYE
Elymus canadensis
Description: During the late spring and summer, this native perennial grass is tufted at the base, producing unbranched culms about 3-5' tall. Each culm has about 8 alter-nate leaves that are distributed throughout its length; the lower leaves often become withered before commencement of the blooming period. From fall to spring, this grass produces clumps of low basal leaves up to 1' tall that are semi-evergreen. Each culm is light green, terete, and slightly glaucous; it is mostly hidden by the sheaths. The blades of the alternate leaves are up to 13" long and 2/3" (15 mm.) across; they are ascending to spreading, hairless, and widest toward the middle. The upper surface of each blade is green, while the lower surface is blue and glaucous. The sheaths of the alternate leaves are mostly blue and glaucous, although the lower sheaths may be somewhat green; they are hairless, open, and longer than than the internodal areas of the culm. Each ligule consists of a stiff short membrane that soon turns brown. The nodes of the culm are slightly swollen.
Uses
Restoration: Canada wildrye is often an early successional component of prairie mixtures.
Livestock: Canada wildrye provides good forage quality during the early part of the grazing season but is generally considered an inferior forage after it matures. It is fairly palatable to most livestock, and is rated good in energy value but poor in protein value.
Wildlife: Canada wildrye has fair to good palatability as food for wildlife. It also provides nesting, brood, winter, and escape cover.
