Tuesday 25 October 2011

5. Great Basin Windrye

Figure 8: Great Basin Wildrye
aka. Giant Wildrye, Basin Wildrye
Elymus Cinereus
(Photo by author)


Grasses covered Skeena Nature Trail, long, unkempt, and the golden-brown of autumn. It was refreshing to walk through the untamed grasses of the trail after crossing the neatly manicured lawn of Dilworth Mountain Park across the street, the bright-green grass of which was most likely not even native to the area. There were a few different types of grass on the trail, but I focused on Great Basin wildrye because the thick, "flowery" heads made for easier photography than some of the more slender varieties. Tufts of this golden-brown grass grew absolutely everywhere, near trees and rocks, beside the road, along the trail, throughout patches of the land that had yet been tampered with and were seldom trod. It's resilience was noteworthy as well as important to the survival of the landscape. Without tough, stable species a landscape surrounded by development on either side would be subjected to eventual diminishing.



Location (North America)Western Canada and USA; some central Canada and USA

Habitat: prefers plenty of sun, though partial shade is acceptable; damp, healthy soil; flourishes in open fields; very resilient. 

Size: approximately 80-100cm tall; with flowers (spring-summer) 110-150cm tall

Characteristics: grows in "clumps" of stems; flowers June-July (Bluestem Nursery 2011); tall growth and high blossoms create great aesthetic; in-season grows green or blue/green (FEIS 2011), out-of-season grows golden-brown.

Notes: Great Basin wildrye has a high tolerance to drought and can sustain itself without a thorough (to the root) watering for approximately a month (Bluestem Nursery 2011). The substantial height of this grass means that it is less susceptible than other plants to most wildlife grazing. However, insect disturbance can cause the a reduction in the production of seeds (FEIS 2011). It is common to find Great Basin wildrye in mountainous soil as well as by roadsides, which matches the "nature trail" environment I found it it (close to development and roads on Dilworth Mountain). It is somewhat tolerant of the high temperatures of fire, though the top ("flowers") may be damaged. There is also a good chance that the plant will repopulate quickly after a fire. Great Basin wildrye was used as a "mat" during Native American ceremonies, whereas the plant would provide a more comfortable surface for the performers (FEIS 2011).






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