Elymus sierrae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elymus sierrae |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Elymus
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| Species: |
sierrae
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Elymus sierrae (also known as Elymus sierrus) is a type of wild rye grass. Its common name is Sierra wild rye. This special grass only grows in the High Sierra Nevada mountains in California and a small part of western Nevada. It likes to live in pine forests and other mountain areas, usually above 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet) high.
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What is Sierra Wild Rye?
Sierra wild rye is a perennial grass. This means it lives for more than two years, often coming back year after year without needing to be replanted. It's a tough plant that can survive in mountain environments.
How Does It Grow?
The stems of Sierra wild rye can grow to be about 30 to 50 centimeters (about 12 to 20 inches) long. When the plant gets older, its stems often lie along the ground. This is called being decumbent.
What Does It Look Like?
The plant's inflorescence (which is the part that holds the flowers and seeds) looks like a series of single-spikelet nodes. These are small sections, only a few centimeters long. Each tiny spikelet has a special part called an awn. This awn curves outwards and can be up to 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) long.
Where Does Sierra Wild Rye Live?
This plant is endemic to the High Sierra Nevada mountain range. This means it is found naturally only in this specific area and nowhere else in the world. It grows in both California and the far western part of Nevada.
Its Mountain Home
Sierra wild rye prefers to live in coniferous forests, which are forests filled with cone-bearing trees like pines and firs. It also grows in other mountain habitats. You'll usually find it at high elevations, generally above 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet).
