| Author | R. Brooks & J.J.N. Campbell | |
| Distribution | Scattered across much of the state. This recently described species is too little-known to have a reliable distribution map. We map only specimens annotated by Julian Campbell. Other county records are expected, as the map below features odd and un-natural gaps.
ME to ND, south to northern FL and TX; mostly west of the Appalachians. | |
| Abundance | No data. However, in VA, "Locally common in the Piedmont and Mountains; a dominant grass in late spring and early summer along the James, Potomac, and Shenandoah rivers and probably elsewhere" (Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora website). Probably locally common along some brownwater floodplains in NC -- such as the Cape Fear River, Deep, and Roanoke Rivers; the range map seems to suggest collections from a number of counties along those rivers. The website editors suggest a State Rank of S3 for now. | |
| Habitat | Habitats are still being learned, but appears to favor mesic to moist lower forested slopes, alluvial sites, and bottomlands; the soils circumneutral to calcareous -- essentially along brownwater rivers. |
| Phenology | Flowering and fruiting June-August. | |
| Identification | Early Wild-rye is a recent split from E. virginicus, differing in its one-month earlier flowering time, wider inflorescences (including awns, 2.2-4.5 cm wide vs. 0.7-2.2 cm wide in E. virginicus) and glume awns 10-30 mm long (vs. 0-10 mm long in that species). From E. glabriflorus, it is told by its shorter inflorescences (9-16 nodes vs. 18-30 nodes in that species). | |
| Taxonomic Comments | Formerly included within E. virginicus without any rank. Weakley (2020) recognizes 2 varieties; we lump them until annotated specimens and descriptive text are available.
Ryegrasses or Wild-ryes (genus Elymus) are noted by their evenly spaced leaves and elongate, terminal inflorescence that recall cultivated rye or wheat. Each floret produces several long, skinny awns (shortest in E. virginicus sensu stricto). Identification of some species requires a dissecting scope or at least a 10x handlens. | |
| Other Common Name(s) | None | |
| State Rank | S3? [S3] | |
| Global Rank | G5 | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
