BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Psathyrostachys juncea | Russian Wildrye 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Russian wildrye is a hardy, vigorous, drought-resistant, long-lived,
densely tufted, cool-season, introduced, perennial bunchgrass.  This
species superficially resembles crested wheatgrass (Agropyron
cristatum), another frequently cultivated Eurasian bunchgrass [17].
Plants produce abundant, fibrous roots [16] and are strictly caespitose,
never forming rhizomes [1].  Culms are densely tufted, typically 1.3 to
3.7 feet (4-11 dm) tall and erect or decumbent at the base.  Old sheath
bases are usually persistent, often ultimately shredding into fibers
[5,18].  Leaves are mostly basal, abundant, and lax; blades are flat to
involute.  The inflorescense is an erect, dense, flat-cylindric spike
from 1.3 to 6.4 inches (3-16 cm) long [18].  Lemmas are short-awned.


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
NO-ENTRY


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Elevational ranges for several western states are presented below
[8,18].

       from  5,500 to 7,000 feet (1,677-2,134 m) in CO
	     4,198 to 9,414 feet (1,280-2,870 m) in UT
	     6,900 to 8,500 feet (2,104-2,591 m) in WY


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Russian wildrye is an introduced species that has been seeded in a wide
variety of early seral situations in numerous nonforested communities
throughout the Intermountain West and northern Great Plains.  Once
established, plants are strong competitors and on seeded pastures
typically self-thin into open stands.  This species is relatively
long-lived when under cultivation.  Wasser [17] estimates longevity to
be approximtely 25 years or longer in the northern Great Plains and
perhaps somewhat shorter on sites within the Great Basin.  When seeded
on mountain-brush sites in Utah, Russian wildrye was more productive
growing in the light shade of greasewood (Sarcobatus spp.), big
sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), and rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysthosamnus
spp.) than on sites lacking these associated woody species [15].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Detailed information on the phenological development of Russian wildrye
is lacking.  This cool-season bunchgrass begins growth early in the
spring, almost as early as crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum)
[16,17].  Russian wildrye is noted for its ability to remain green
throughout the summer on sites where moisture is adequate, even after
early seed maturity.  Apparently fall regrowth is made quickly, with
plants remainomg green into the fall.

Anthesis data for several western states is as follows [8,11]:

State             Earliest flowering           Latest flowering
                        date                        date
CO                      June                        July
ND                      June                        July
UT                      May                         July
WY                      June                        July

Related categories for Species: Psathyrostachys juncea | Russian Wildrye