Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould subsp. lanceolatus
thickspike wildrye (thickspike wheatgrass)
Poaceae (Grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
thickspike wildrye (thickspike wheatgrass)
Poaceae (Grass family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
Map
Distribution of Elymus lanceolatus subsp. lanceolatus
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend
Species Information
General:
Perennial grass from conspicuous rhizomes; stems 22-130 cm tall, erect, the nodes exposed, smooth.
Leaves:
Sheaths smooth to hairy; blades 2-6 mm wide, mostly towards the base of the stems, in-rolled, the undersides smooth, the upper surfaces rough; ear-shaped lobes 1-1.5 mm long, usually present on the lower leaves; ligules 0.1-0.4 mm long, the edges ragged or fringed with fine hairs.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a spike 3.5-22 cm long, 0.7-1 cm wide, erect; spikelets 8-25 mm long, usually with 1 spikelet per node; spikelets with 3 to 11 florets; glumes unequal, 5-9 mm long, 1/2 to 3/4 the length of the first lemmas, smooth or hairy, weakly keeled, pointed to shortly-awned; lemmas 7-11 mm long, smooth or more often hairy to densely hairy with hairs less than 1 mm long, sharp-pointed to awn-tipped; anthers 2.5-5 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
USDA Species Characteristics
Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Spring to Summer
Source: The USDA
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
1117 | 8 | 2100 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
34 | 0 | 80 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
202 | 70 | 270 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
4 | 1 | 7 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
D | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
25 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
ESSF | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BAFA(1), BWBS(4), ESSF(4), ICH(3), MS(4), SBS(3) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Dry alkaline flats, sand dunes, gravelly sites and open forests in the steppe and montane zones; frequent in NE, SC and SE BC; E to AB and S to MI, IL, NE, NM, AZ and CA.Status Information
| Scientific Name | Origin Status | Provincial Status | BC List (Red Blue List) | COSEWIC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus | Native | S5 | Yellow | Not Listed |
| Elymus lanceolatus ssp. psammophilus | Native | SU | Unknown | Not Listed |
| Elymus lanceolatus ssp. riparius | Native | SU | Unknown | Not Listed |
BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Agropyron dasystachyum (Hook.) Scribn. & J.G. Sm.
Agropyron dasystachyum var. dasystachyum
Agropyron dasystachyum var. riparium (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Bowden
Agropyron dasystachyum var. riparum (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Bowden, orth. var.
Agropyron elmeri Scribn.
Agropyron lanceolatum Scribn. & J.G. Sm.
Agropyron riparium Scribn. & J.G. Sm.
Agropyron riparum Scribn. & J.G. Sm., orth. var.
Agropyron riparum
Elymus lanceolatus var. riparius (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Dorn
Elymus subvillosus (Hook.) Gould
Elytrigia dasystachya (Hook.) A. Löve & D. Löve
Elytrigia ripara (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Beetle [orthographic error]
Elytrigia ripara
Elytrigia riparia (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Beetle