Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier Flora -- Elymus glaucus -- (Blue Wild-rye)

presented by Susan McDougall


Elymus glaucus

The awns are long, and the spikelets reddish. This subspecies grows to elevations of 5,000 feet.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014
Elymus glaucus

Growing on dry ground, often alongside trails, this is a tall grass with flat leaf blades. There are three subspecies at the Park; this is subspecies glaucus.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014
Elymus glaucus

This is subspecies jepsonii. It is known from one lowland location at the Park but is more typically found nearer the coast. The awns are shorter than subspecies glaucus.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Sunshine Point, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014
Elymus glaucus

Subspecies jepsonii has short hairs on the stem.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Sunshine Point, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014
Elymus glaucus

Subspecies virescens is shorter than the other subspecies.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Sunshine Point, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014
Elymus glaucus

Virescens is a relatively common subalpine grass.

Author: Susan McDougall
Box Canyon, Sunshine Point, Mount Rainier National Park
GPS: 46.7671, -121.6368
Date: August 13, 2014

Index
All images are the property of Susan McDougall.
Comments about these photo pages should be directed to podicepswa@gmail.com