Wheatgrass (8)

Desert Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum ssp. desertorum

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Crested Wheatgrass, Russian Wheatgrass
Photo taken on: July 15, 2013
Location: Taylor Canyon, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry disturbed areas, roadsides

Grows to 3ft tall in stiff clumps. Flowers attached to the stem in two rows at a 45 degree angle. Flower spike is 3" long.

Tall Wheatgrass
Elymus elongatus
(Thinopyrum ponticum, Agropyron elongatum)

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Eurasian Quack Grass, Rush Wheatgrass
Photo taken on: August 16, 2019
Location: Rio Chama, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to foothills
Habitat: Dry roadsides, saline soils

Grows to 6 feet tall with slender, 16" long flower spikes. Spikelets are up to 1" long with 6 to 12 florets.

Intermediate Wheatgrass
Elymus hispidus

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 10, 2017
Location: Canada Bonita Trail, Santa Fe NF, NM
Life Zones: Foothills and montane
Habitat: Dry, stony soils

Grows to 4 feet tall with bluish-green stems and leaves. Flower spikes are 6" to 8" long. Spikelets have fine hairs.

Thickspike Wheatgrass
Elymus lanceolatus

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Streambank Wheatgrass
Photo taken on: June 30, 2017
Location: Almont, NM
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Dry to moist soils, sunny areas

Grows 1 to 3 feet tall with a narrow, compact flower spike up to 8" long. Leaves are narrow, up to 9" long, and roll under in hot weather.

Quackgrass
Elymus repens (Agropyron repens)

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: July 15, 2013
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Waste areas, fields

Grows to 3ft tall with narrow, 6" long flower spikes. Flowers have spiny tips. Plant is bluish-green.

It is considered noxious in Colorado because its roots can penetrate the roots of other plants.

Spreading Wheatgrass
Elymus scribneri

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA: Scribner's Wild Rye
Photo taken on: July 9, 2015
Location: Old Monarch Pass, CO
Life Zones: Subalpine and alpine
Habitat: Windswept, rocky slopes

Grows leaning or prostrate to 12". Flower spikes are up to 4" long with spikelets of 3 to 6 florets attached to the main stem. Florets have a spreading 1" purplish awn (bristle). Similar to Squirreltail but a smaller plant and less erect. Squirreltail is not found in the alpine zone.

Western Wheatgrass
Elymus smithii (Agropyron smithii)

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: September 2, 2013
Location: Wet Mountains, Eastern CO
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Disturbed areas

Grows to 2 ½ft with coarse, stiff, gray-green waxy-looking leaves.

Slender Wheatgrass
Elymus trachycaulus (Agropyron trachycaulum)

Family: Grass (Poaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: June 19, 2013
Location: Almont Triangle, GV, CO
Life Zones: Plains to alpine
Habitat: Dry open areas

Grows to 5ft tall in dense tufts. Flower spikes are narrow and up to 10" long, green to purple-tinged.