Elymus cinereus
Great basin wild-rye
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Poaceae · Type: Grass · Native
Elymus cinereus (Great basin wild-rye) is a native California grass in the Poaceae family, recognized by largest species with distinctive hairy nodes and multiple spikelets per node.
Great basin wild-rye is a native perennial grass found in the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, Transverse Ranges, Great Basin, and Desert Mountains in streamsides, canyons, roadsides, sagebrush scrub, and open woodland at elevations up to 3,100 meters. Flowering from June to August, this grass produces pale greenish-tan spikelets in dense, spike-like clusters 9 to 19 centimeters long. Growing with robust, densely tufted stems 70 to 270 centimeters tall, it forms dense clumps with nodes that are especially hairy on the lower portions. Its leaves are strongly rolled or flat, 15 to 45 centimeters long and 3 to 12 millimeters wide, with a distinctive scabrous upper surface and small auricles up to 1.5 millimeters long. The spikelets feature stiff, awl-like glumes 8 to 18 millimeters long, with 3 to 7 florets per spikelet.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species; largest species with distinctive hairy nodes and multiple spikelets per node
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streamsides, canyons, roadsides, sagebrush scrub, open woodland
Elevation: < 3100 m
California counties: Nevada, Kern, Los Angeles, Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Alpine, Placer, Lassen, Modoc, Siskiyou, Shasta, Madera, Plumas
Outside California: to Canada, western United States
Bloom period
Elymus cinereus blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Hordeum: Elymus has rounded glume backs; Hordeum has all glumes narrow and bristle-like.; vs Leymus: Elymus has 2-8 spikelets per node; Leymus has just 1-2 spikelets per node.; vs Taeniatherum: Elymus is perennial with robust growth; Taeniatherum is a weedy annual with very long awns.; vs Lolium: Elymus shows multiple spikelets per node; Lolium has single spikelets edgewise to the stem.; vs Thinopyrum: Elymus has prominent auricles; Thinopyrum typically lacks auricles or has very small ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is Elymus cinereus native to California?
Yes. Elymus cinereus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Elymus cinereus bloom?
Elymus cinereus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Elymus cinereus grow?
Elymus cinereus occurs in Nevada, Kern, Los Angeles, Inyo, San Bernardino, Mono, Alpine, Placer and other counties, at elevations of < 3100 m.
What plant family does Elymus cinereus belong to?
Elymus cinereus is in the Poaceae family, genus Elymus.
What habitat does Elymus cinereus grow in?
Elymus cinereus grows in Streamsides, canyons, roadsides, sagebrush scrub, open woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.