Origin: Native   Season: Warm Habitat Description: Found in open moist meadows, shaded canyons, along streams and on forested slopes. May also be found in disturbed areas. Plant Communities:Interior Chaparral, Semidesert Grasslands, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Montane Conifer Forest, Riparian, Disturbed Areas Elevation: 3500 - 9000 feet
General Description
Desc:
Perennial grass grows in small tufts or dense clumps with slender stems 1 to 5 feet tall. Plant ascending to erect; with or without rhizomes and sometimes stoloniferous. Leaves usually basally concentrated. Widely used to revegitate disturbed land. Identification Notes: Seedheads slender; spikelets towards branch ends; glumes nearly as long as the spikelet. Anthers 1 to 2.5 mm; most inflorescence internodes < 15 mm. Varies in the presence or absence of rhizomes, length and density of the seedhead and awn development. Grass Type: Perennial bunchgrass Rhizomes: Y Stolons: Y Large Dense Clump (> 2 feet): Y Bushy (highly branched): N Height with Seedheads: Greater than 36 inches Seedhead Structure: Unbranched Seedhead Droops: N Flowering Period: Jul - Oct Flower Characteristics
Number of Flowers per Spikelet: Multi-flowered Spikelets One-sided: N Awns: 1/4 inch to 1 inch Three Awns: N Awns Bent: N Flower and Seedhead Notes: Seedhead is a spike up to 10 inches long with 1 spikelet per node. Spikelets are appressed against the stem and there is more than one floret per spikelet.
Vegetative Charcteristics
Blade Hairy:
Y
Blade with White Margins:
N
Blade Cross section:
Flat or involute
Blade Notes:
Leaves are flat to involute, usually straight and ascending. Leaf blades may be smooth or hairy. Stems are thin and smooth.
Sheath Hairy:
N
Tuft of Hairs at top of Sheath or Collar:
N
Ligules:
Membranous Auricles (Ear-like lobes at collar area:
N
Forage Value:
Slender wheatgrass is very palatable and grazed by wildlife and livestock. It is rated as good in energy value but poor in protein value.
Arizona Cooperative Extension
Yavapai County
840 Rodeo Dr #C
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 445-6590