Koeleria macrantha

With some imagination, a blossoming blade of prairie junegrass resembles a torch. In Dutch, its name is literally 'narrow torch grass'. It is a relatively short grass growing in many kinds of environments, including the dunes. In fact, its presence indicates a specific kind of landscape. If prairie junegrass is found in the dunes, then these dunes have been developing for centuries but are still not totally depleted of calcium. There are more species of plants and moss found in a prairie junegrass landscape than in one with marram grass.

Koeleria macrantha is native to Eurasia and North America with a very broad distribution. Even with this widespread native occurrence the species is classified as endangered in some states such as Illinois, where extensive destruction of native prairies has been practiced for a prolonged time.

This perennial bunchgrass rises to as high as 80 centimeters and exhibits dense, silver-green, spike-like seedheads, which become turn tan by mid-summer. Prairie junegrass is a valuable resource for native birdlife.

Principal habitats of occurrence include rangeland, high prairies, mountain foothills and open forests. Prairie junegrass often occurs in native plant communities at high altitudes with open, rocky areas. Adaptation is strong to well-drained soils, including silts and loams.

This native perennial grass forms a tight tuft of culms and leaves about ½–1½' tall. The culms are light green, terete, and glabrous to finely pubescent. The alternate leaves are located mostly along the lower half of each culm. The leaf blades are up to 1/8" across (3 mm.) and 6" long; they are medium green to greyish blue, flat to somewhat involute (rolled inward), and slightly pubescent to hairless. The leaf sheaths are similar in color to the leaf blades and usually pubescent. There are remnants of dried leaves surrounding the base of each tufted plant; these dried leaves are light grey or straw-colored. Each culm terminates in a spike-like panicle of florets about 3-6" long. This panicle is initially light to medium green, but it later becomes light tan to brown. The branches of this panicle are up to 1" long and appressed to ascending; they subdivide into branchlets with terminal spikelets. Each spikelet is 5-6 mm. long and flattened; it consists of a pair of glumes at the bottom and 1 or 2 pairs of lemmas. Each lemma has a palea that encloses a single perfect floret. The glumes and lemmas are ovate-lanceolate, keeled, and hairless. The lemmas and larger glume are 4-5 mm. long, while the smaller glume is 3-4 mm. long. The blooming period occurs during the late spring or early summer (hence the common name of the species). The florets are wind-pollinated. After the grains ripen, disarticulation is above the glumes. The root system is fibrous. June Grass normally occurs in scattered clumps.

General: Prairie junegrass is a native, perennial, cool season tufted bunchgrass found on rangelands, plains and open forestlands. It is commonly 0.5- 2 feet tall. The narrow leaves form small basal clusters from which arise several seedheads. Leaves are basal, flat to in-rolled and sharply pointed. The seedheads are narrow contracted panicles and have the appearance of dense spikes, one per stem. The spikelets are normally pale green to purplish in color. Fine hairs are found on the reproductive stem just below the seedhead. The glumes are sharp and shiny. This is one of the first grasses to green-up in the early spring. Prairie junegrass is a perennial grass of medium longevity found in a wide variety of native plant communities.

Intermountain Flora - drawn by Jeanne R. Janish.

University of Washington Press.

This species is often mistaken for muttongrass (Poa fendleriana) and spike trisetum (Trisetum wolfii), but can be distinguished by the hairy panicles and smaller spikelets.

Distribution: The range of prairie junegrass extends from Ontario to British Columbia, south to Delaware, California and Mexico. For additional information on distribution, consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Koeleria cristata; mountain junegrass, junegrass,

Prairie junegrass is cold, heat and drought tolerant and grows on rangeland meadows, plains, mountain foothills and open forestlands. It does best at 12- 20 inches annual precipitation. It is most commonly found at elevations from 4,000- 8,000 feet, but occurs up to 11,500 feet in the central Rocky Mountains.

It is found primarily as a component of native plant communities in open and rocky areas. It is best adapted to well-drained soils such as silts to loams to sandy loams. It prefers 6.5- 8.0 pH soils. It has good tolerance to fire.

Koeleria cristata var. tenuifolia Boiss.:
Ukraine (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria albida Opiz:
Czechoslovakia (Europe)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria gracilis fo. triflora Domin:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria gracilis var. laxa Domin:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria gracilis subsp. macrura Domin:
Mexico (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult.:
Australia (Oceania)
Canada (North America)
India (Asia)
Italy (Europe)
Japan (Asia)
Latvia (Europe)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Mongolia (Asia)
Nepal (Asia)
Sweden (Europe)
Peru (South America)
Pakistan (Asia)
Russian Federation (Asia)
Spain (Europe)
Turkmenistan (Asia)
Turkey (Asia)
United Kingdom (Europe)
United States (North America)
Uzbekistan (Asia)
China (Asia)
Iran (Asia)
Greece (Europe)
Finland (Europe)
Denmark (Europe)
Tajikistan (Asia)
Kazakhstan (Asia)
Kyrgyzstan (Asia)
Afghanistan (Asia)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria gracilis Pers.:
Bolivia (South America)
Canada (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Koeleria nitida Nutt.:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Anhui, Fujian, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Zhejiang [Afghanistan, NW India, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; North America, SW Asia, Europe; introduced to Australia and elsewhere].

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, Punjab, N.W.F.P., Gilgit & Kashmir); throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere.

Perennials, Terrestrial, not aquatic, Rhizome short and compact, stems close, Rhizome elongate, creeping, stems distant, Basal sheaths fibrous, old leaves persistent at base of plant, Stems nodes swollen or brittle, Stems erect or ascending, Stems caespitose, tufted, or clustered, Stems terete, round in cross section , or polygonal, Stem nodes bearded or hairy, Stem internodes hollow, Stems with inflorescence less than 1 m tall, Stems, culms, or scapes exceeding basal leaves, Leaves mostly basal, below middle of stem, Leaves conspicuously 2-ranked, distichous, Leaves sheathing at base, Leaf sheath mostly open, or loose, Leaf sheath smooth, glabrous, Leaf sheath hairy, hispid or prickly, Leaf sheath and blade differentiated, Leaf blades linear, Leaf blades very narrow or filiform, less than 2 mm wide, Leaf blades 2-10 mm wide, Leaf blades mostly flat, Leaf blade margins folded, involute, or conduplicate, Leaf blades mostly glabrous, Leaf blades more or less hairy, Leaf blades scabrous, roughened, or wrinkled, Ligule present, Ligule an unfringed eciliate membrane, Inflorescence terminal, Inflorescence a dense slender spike-like panicle or raceme, branches contracted, Inflorescence solitary, with 1 spike, fascicle, glomerule, head, or cluster per stem or culm, Inflorescence spike linear o r cylindric, several times longer than wide, Inflorescence branches more than 10 to numerous, Peduncle or rachis scabrous or pubescent, often with long hairs, Flowers bisexual, Spikelets pedicellate, Spikelets laterally compressed, Spikelet less than 3 mm wide, Spikelets with 2 florets, Spikelets with 3-7 florets, Spikelets solitary at rachis nodes, Spikelets all alike and fertille, Spikelets bisexual, Spikelets disarticulating above the glumes, glumes persistent, Rachilla or pedicel hairy, Glumes present, empty bracts, Glumes 2 clearly present, Glumes equal or subequal, Glumes equal to or longer than adjacent lemma, Glume equal to or longer than spikelet, Glumes keeled or winged, Glumes 1 nerved, Lemma similar in texture to glumes, Lemma 3 nerved, Lemma glabrous, Lemma apex acute or acuminate, Lemma awnless, Lemma mucronate, very shortly beaked or awned, less than 1-2 mm, Lemma margins thin, lying flat, Lemma straight, Callus or base of lemma evidently hairy, Callus hairs s horter than lemma, Palea present, well developed, Palea membranous, hyaline, Palea about equal to lemma, Palea 2 nerved or 2 keeled, Stamens 3, Styles 2-fid, deeply 2-branched, Stigmas 2, Fruit - caryopsis, Caryopsis ellipsoid, longitudinally grooved, hilum long-linear.

More info for the terms: cool-season, density

GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Prairie Junegrass is a loosely-tufted, shallow-rooted, native grass of small stature. This cool-season perennial bunchgrass has long, mostly basal leaves [11,43,56,110]. The panicle is narrow and spikelike, except during spring flowering, when open [117].

Quantitative botanical characteristics are extremely variable depending upon sample location. The spikelike panicle can range from 1 to 7 inches (2.5-17.8 cm) in length [117] and is usually two flowered and compressed [54]. During flowering the spikelike branches are open [78]. The long, narrow, flat leaves range from 1.5 to 5 inches (3.8-12.7 cm) long from their basal point of attachment [117]. Prairie Junegrass's leaves are drought resistant and persist under dry conditions [33].

Prairie Junegrass has an average maximum rooting depth between 13 to 29.5 inches (33-75 cm) [29]. Root density decreases after 11.8 inches (30 cm), with the greatest concentration of fibrous roots found within the upper 1.2 inches (3 cm) [107]. Lateral spread ranges from 5.9 to 7.9 inches (15-20 cm) near the soil surface [29].

Perennial, densely tufted; old basal sheaths papery, persistent around each culm base. Culms stiffly erect, 5–60 cm tall, woolly especially below panicle, 2–3-noded. Leaf sheaths glabrous or pubescent; leaf blades grayish green, usually rolled, sometimes flat, up to 30 cm, 1–2 mm wide, pubescent or adaxial surface glabrous; ligule 0.2–2 mm. Panicle linear-oblong in outline, 1.5–13 cm, lower part often interrupted and lobed, silvery green or tinged purple; axis and branches woolly. Spikelets 3–7 mm, florets 2–3(–4); rachilla hairs less than 0.4 mm or glabrous; glumes slightly unequal, punctate-scaberulous, keel scabrid, lower glume narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–4 mm, upper glume elliptic-oblong, 2.5–5.5 mm, apex acute; lemmas lanceolate, 2.6–5.5 mm, punctate-scaberulous, apex acute, cuspidate, or rarely keel extended up to 0.3 mm into apical mucro; palea keels ciliolate. Anthers 1.2–2.3 mm. Fl. and fr. May–Sep.

Loosely tufted perennial, sometimes with creeping rhizomes; culms 10-40 cm high, simple, erect or ascending. Leaf-blades up to 15 cm long, 1-2.5 mm wide, flat or folded, glabrous or hairy; ligule up to 1 mm long. Panicle narrowly oblong, 2-10 cm long, usually lobed or interrupted in the lower part. Spikelets 2-3-flowered, silvery-green, brownish or purplish; glumes glabrous or shortly hairy along the keel, acuminate, mucronate or shortly aristulate, the lower narrowly lanceolate, 3-4.5 mm long, 1-nerved, the upper oblong-elliptic,4-5.5 mm long, 3-nerved; lemmas oblong-elliptic, 35-5.5 mm long, 3-nerved, glabrous, acuminate or mucronate, awnless; anthers about 2 mm long.

Aira macrantha Ledebour, Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Pétersbourg, Sér. 7, 5: 515. 1815; Koeleria cristata Persoon var. poiformis (Domin) Tzvelev; K. cristata subsp. pseudocristata (Domin) Domin; K. cristata var. pseudocristata (Domin) P. C. Kuo & Z. L. Wu; K. gracilis Persoon, nom. illeg. superfl.; K. poiformis Domin; K. pseudocristata Domin; K. tokiensis Domin.

More info for the terms: association, cover, presence

Prairie Junegrass is fairly cosmopolitan among prairie and grassland habitats of North America. A small percentage of prairie Junegrass cover is found within the majority of upland and high-prairie systems [38,90,122] in scattered stands [117]. Prairie Junegrass is normally found at elevations between 5,000 to 8,000 feet (1524-2438 m) [87]. Preferred sites are cool, semi-arid (xeric) [8,10,26], infertile grasslands and rock outcrops [27]. Annual precipitation requirements range from 16 to 21 inches (41-53 cm) [87] with 70% obtained during the growing season (August-September) [26].

The wide distribution of prairie Junegrass across several habitat types is consistent with its occurrence on many soil types [58,87]. A study evaluating ecological factors associated with production of grassland communities in western North Dakota found prairie Junegrass a member of several plant communities of different soils and vegetation [90]. Percent clay doesn't appear to have a great effect upon the presence of prairie Junegrass [58]. Steep slopes and well-drained soils with moderate to high water holding capacity are preferred [97]. Within sagebrush communities of Grand Teton National Park, a greater occurrence of prairie Junegrass was found on coarse textured soils [98]. An evaluation within the White Mountains of California found prairie Junegrass occurring on carbonate, noncarbonate, basalt, sandstone, and adamellite substrates, with a moderate affinity for noncarbonates [72]. A positive association with exchangeable Na was also found, along with a negative association to sandstone substrates and sites with high exchangeable K [72].

More info for the term: climax

Agropyron-Koeleria, in which prairie Junegrass is a dominant species, is one of the northern plains mixed-prairie
climax communities [30]. Prairie Junegrass is also a climax dominant within mixed-grass
communities of southern Alberta and an indicator species of lower- to middle-north facing slopes [32].

Prairie Junegrass is listed as an indicator or a dominant species in the following publications:

Plant communities of the Blue Mountains in eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington [50]

Plant associations of the Crooked River National Grassland [57]

Habitat types on selected parts of the Gunnison and Uncompahgre National Forests [68]

A preliminary classification of high-elevation sagebrush-grass vegetation in northern and central Nevada [77]

Plant associations (habitat types) of Region 2 [115]

Sagebrush steppe [128]

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: cover, shrub, vine

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [100]:

101 Bluebunch wheatgrass

102 Idaho fescue

103 Green Fescue

104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

106 Bluegrass scabland

107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass

108 Alpine Idaho fescue

110 Ponderosa pine-grassland

201 Blue oak woodland

202 Coast live oak woodland

206 Chamise chaparral

207 Scrub oak mixed chaparral

209 Montane shrubland

210 Bitterbrush

212 Blackbush

215 Valley grassland

301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama

302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass

303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass

304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

305 Idaho fescue-Richardson needlegrass

306 Idaho fescue-slender wheatgrass

307 Idaho fescue-threadleaf sedge

309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass

310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama

311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue

316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue

317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

318 Bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

319 Bitterbrush-rough fescue

320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue

322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass

323 Shrubby cinquefoil-rough fescue

324 Threetip sagebrush-Idaho fescue

401 Basin big sagebrush

402 Mountain big sagebrush

403 Wyoming big sagebrush

404 Threetip sagebrush

405 Black sagebrush

406 Low sagebrush

408 Other sagebrush types

409 Tall forb

411 Aspen woodland

412 Juniper-pinyon woodland

413 Gambel oak

415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany

419 Bittercherry

421 Chokecherry-serviceberry-rose

501 Saltbrush-greasewood

502 Grama-galleta

503 Arizona chaparral

504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland

505 Grama-tobosa shrub

509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association

601 Bluestem prairie

602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed

603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass

604 Bluestem-grama prairie

605 Sandsage prairie

606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass

609 Wheatgrass-grama

610 Wheatgrass

611 Blue grama-buffalo grass

612 Sagebrush-grass

613 Fescue grassland

614 Crested wheatgrass

615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama

701 Alkali sacaton-tobosagrass

702 Black grama-alkali sacaton

703 Black grama-sideoats grama

704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass

705 Blue grama-galleta

706 Blue grama-sideoats grama

707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama

708 Bluestem-dropseed

709 Bluestem-grama

710 Bluestem prairie

712 Galleta-alkali sacaton

713 Grama-muhly-threeawn

714 Grama-bluestem

715 Grama-buffalo grass

716 Grama-feathergrass

718 Mesquite-grama

719 Mesquite-liveoak-seacoast bluestem

720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)

721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)

722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie

724 Sideoats grama-New Mexico feathergrass-winterfat

725 Vine mesquite-alkali sacaton

727 Mesquite-buffalo grass

728 Mesquite-granjeno-acacia

729 Mesquite

730 Sand shinnery oak

731 Cross timbers-Oklahoma

732 Cross timbers-Texas (little bluestem-post oak)

733 Juniper-oak

734 Mesquite-oak

801 Savanna

802 Missouri prairie

804 Tall fescue

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: cover

SAF COVER TYPES [44]:

14 Northern pin oak

40 Post oak-blackjack oak

42 Bur oak

44 Chestnut oak

46 Eastern redcedar

66 Ashe juniper-redberry (Pinchot) juniper

67 Mohrs (shin) oak

68 Mesquite

110 Black oak

209 Bristlecone pine

210 Interior Douglas-fir

218 Lodgepole pine

219 Limber pine

220 Rocky Mountain juniper

229 Pacific Douglas-fir

231 Port-Orford-cedar

233 Oregon white oak

234 Douglas-fir-tanoak-Pacific madrone

236 Bur oak

237 Interior ponderosa pine

238 Western juniper

239 Pinyon-juniper

241 Western live oak

242 Mesquite

243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer

244 Pacific ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir

245 Pacific ponderosa pine

246 California black oak

247 Jeffrey pine

248 Knobcone pine

249 Canyon live oak

250 Blue oak-foothills pine

251 White spruce-aspen

255 California coast live oak

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the term: shrub

KUCHLER [67] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:

K005 Mixed conifer forest

K010 Ponderosa shrub forest

K011 Western ponderosa forest

K012 Douglas-fir forest

K016 Eastern ponderosa forest

K017 Black Hills pine forest

K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest

K019 Arizona pine forest

K022 Great Basin pine forest

K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland

K024 Juniper steppe woodland

K026 Oregon oakwoods

K028 Mosaic of K002 and K026

K030 California oakwoods

K031 Oak-juniper woodland

K032 Transition between K031 and K037

K033 Chaparral

K034 Montane chaparral

K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub

K038 Great Basin sagebrush

K048 California steppe

K050 Fescue-wheatgrass

K051 Wheatgrass-bluegrass

K055 Sagebrush steppe

K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe

K058 Grama-tobosa shrubsteppe

K060 Mesquite savanna

K061 Mesquite-acacia savanna

K062 Mesquite-live oak savanna

K063 Foothills prairie

K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass

K065 Grama-buffalo grass

K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass

K069 Bluestem-grama prairie

K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie

K074 Bluestem prairie

K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie

K076 Blackland prairie

K081 Oak savanna

K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100

K084 Cross Timbers

K085 Mesquite-buffalo grass

K086 Juniper-oak savanna

K087 Mesquite-oak savanna

K088 Fayette prairie

K100 Oak-hickory forest

More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

ECOSYSTEMS [46]:

FRES14 Oak-pine

FRES15 Oak-hickory

FRES18 Maple-beech-birch

FRES20 Douglas-fir

FRES21 Ponderosa pine

FRES26 Lodgepole Pine

FRES28 Western Hardwoods

FRES29 Sagebrush

FRES30 Desert shrub

FRES31 Shinnery

FRES32 Texas savanna

FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe

FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub

FRES35 Pinyon-juniper

FRES36 Mountain grasslands

FRES38 Plains grasslands

FRES39 Prairie

FRES40 Desert grasslands

FRES42 Annual grasslands

Mountain slopes, grassland, roadsides; sea level to 3900 m.

Prairie junegrass is not recommended for fall or dormant fall seedings. It does best when seeded in the spring. Young plants are subject to thinning by frost heaving and soil cracking during winter and very early spring.

The native accessions of this species have an average of 2,300,000 seeds per pound. The full monoculture seeding rate for drill application is 1 PLS pound per acre. Use the appropriate percentage of this rate when planting native seed mixtures. The seed should be planted into a clean, weed-free, firm seedbed at soil surface to 1/8-inch depth because seed requires light to achieve maximum germination.

The exclusion of grazing animals until plants become well established is recommended. This may require up to 2- 3 growing seasons.

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Blumeria graminis parasitises live Koeleria macrantha sens. lat.

Plant / resting place / on
female micropter of Chirothrips ruptipennis may be found on Koeleria macrantha sens. lat.
Remarks: season: 4-11
Other: uncertain

Foodplant / parasite
telium of Puccinia longissima parasitises live leaf of Koeleria macrantha sens. lat.

More info for the term: density

Burning, in general, has a positive influence on prairie Junegrass populations when conducted in early-spring and fall and followed by mean or above average annual precipitation [113]. Water availability after a burn is important for maintaining healthy postfire populations of prairie Junegrass. A fall burn and above average precipitation increased postfire prairie Junegrass density in a southwestern ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest [86]. The opposite was seen at a fall burn in North Dakota, but burned areas possessed a lower moisture content than unburned areas [11].

A study comparing fire tolerance and burn season found prairie Junegrass tolerant to burns conducted in May, June and November on a grassland in eastern Oregon [24]. Evaluations were made 1 and 2 years after the burn.

More info for the terms: basal area, cover, density, fire use, frequency, prescribed fire, restoration, severity

Prairie Junegrass shows positive responses to fire. Fall and early-spring burns produce better responses than summer
burns [4,62]. A summation on the effect of burn
seasonality in eastern Oregon is given below [126]:

Burn Season Change in Basal Area Mortality Mid-May -32% 20% Mid-June (Post-seed-out) -18% 0% Mid-October approx. -18% 0%
Observations of prairie Junegrass populations two years after a spring burn were conducted in Galena Gulch within the
Deer Lodge National Forest in western Montana. Burned sites experienced a 40% increase in prairie Junegrass
occurrence [6]. Percent coverage of prairie Junegrass was evaluated in burned and
unburned sites after a June fire in western Montana. Coverage was greater in the burned areas two years after the
burn populations decreased, but maintained levels above the control stands [6].
Autumn 1977 Spring 1978 Summer 1978 Unburned Burned Unburned Burned Unburned Burned 1.6 1.5 1.4 2.4 1.5 3.0
An experiment was initiated in 1926 on a bluestem pasture in eastern Kansas to record effects of fire upon several
ecological parameters. Fires were set the same times each year beginning in 1926: early-spring (March 20),
medium-spring (April 10), late-spring (May 5) and late-fall (December 1). The response of prairie Junegrass
to the burns from late June, 1928, to early July, 1933, are summarized below [4]:

Number of plants/year within 2 rods square - observed late June and early July

Year Observed Burn date 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 Mean Fall 1,210 1,864 2,114 2,283 1,783 1,080 1,722 Early-spring 1,296 1,402 1,465 1,340 1,002 482 1,165 Medium-spring 574 555 756 1,031 767 523 701 Late-spring 1,058 1,052 1,571 1,818 1,068 447 1169 Check plot 619 1,084 1,052 992 627 181 759
Prairie Junegrass density on all burn treatments except medium-spring, exceeded density on the 1928 check plot until 1933,
when densities were low on early-spring and late-spring treatment sites as well [4].

An August burn in northeastern Oregon resulted in elevated postburn coverage for prairie Junegrass at 1 and 5 years after
moderate and low severity burns. Moderate burns maintained 5% prairie Junegrass cover, near the preburn 3% coverage. The low
severity burn showed an increase the 1st year from 2% to 9%, dropping to 4% the 5th year [61].
Average % composition for prairie Junegrass was observed under different burning regimes from 1928 to 1982 on a
tall-grass prairie in Kansas. Winter (December 1) and early spring (March 20) burns highly favored prairie
Junegrass (p<0.05) [113]. Burns at different times show degenerative effects
[19].
Twelve to 15 years after prescribed burns in eastern Idaho, prairie Junegrass produced more herbage on burned than
unburned sites. Production on 'heavy' burns (main stem of sagebrush consumed by fire) was less than on 'light'
(only leaves consumed) and 'moderate' (leaves and small branches consumed) burns. Results in pounds/acre are
[16]:
Fire Season Years postfire Unburned Light-burn Moderate-burn Heavy-burn August 12 9.4 14.2 13.3 10.7 September 15 32.8 43.6 53.4 36.8
On ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir communities in the Blue Mountains
of northeastern Oregon, prairie Junegrass cover and frequency in postfire year
4 were higher on prescribed burned sites than on thinned, thinned-and-burned,
or unburned control sites. Prairie Junegrass was determined to be an indicator
species for burned sites (P≤0.05). For further information
on the effects of thinning and burning treatments on prairie Junegrass and
48 other species, see the Research Project Summary of Youngblood and
others' [130] study.
The other following Research Project Summaries also provide information on prescribed
fire use and postfire response of plant species including prairie Junegrass:

• Effects of fall and spring prescribed burning in
  sagebrush steppe in east-central Oregon
• Vegetation response to restoration treatments
  in ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir forests of western Montana
• Seasonal fires in Saskatchewan rough fescue prairie

More info for the terms: fire intensity, frequency, presence

Positive postfire vegetational responses are common for prairie Junegrass. Increased seedhead presence and height-of-inflorescence have been documented [41]. Annual burning of a native grassland in the aspen parkland of central Alberta caused a 40% increase in seedhead presence compared to unburned areas [5].

Prairie Junegrass's response to fire is related to season of burn, fire intensity, and postfire water availability [49]. Several studies evaluating the effect of fire on following season vigor report positive correlations [2,3,4,6,8]. Time required to acquire the approximate preburn frequency or coverage, is rapid, averaging 2 to 5 years [120].

More info for the terms: root crown, wildfire

DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT
The root crown of prairie Junegrass may sustain immediate damage depending upon amount of heat transferred through the soil [36]. Meristematic tissue of most grasses is found at the ground surface in the root crown [101]. A study [36] in the southwest United States evaluated patterns of plant growth in relation to soil heating from wildfire in chaparral systems. Prairie Junegrass was found to have a strong negative correlation between heat load and sprouts.

Prairie Junegrass is usually top-killed or killed by fire. Fast-moving, low-intensity fires will consume above ground vegetation without damaging the plant's crown [101]. In general, late-spring burns are more damaging to prairie Junegrass than early-spring, late-summer, fall, or winter burns [113].

More info for the terms: caudex, graminoid, secondary colonizer

Tussock graminoid
Caudex, growing points in soil
Secondary colonizer - on-site seed

More info for the terms: fire severity, severity

Prairie Junegrass is reported as showing little or no damage [129] to moderate damage [126] from fire. Perennial grasses possess growing points insulated near or below the soil surface [129]. The small stature of prairie Junegrass and coarse textured foliage aid in protection of these meristimatic tissue areas [129]. Possessing coarsely textured foliage and a small clump size also limits the potential for fire damage [129]. Coarse grasses like prairie Junegrass burn quickly, transferring little heat below the soil surface [120]. As a member of eastern Oregon grasslands, prairie Junegrass is considered a superior fire-resistant perennial bunch grass [126].

Fire survival strategy for prairie Junegrass is based upon seed germination and residual plant survival [23]. The extent of damage or benefit imposed by fire is highly variable. Response can vary according to fire severity, physiological state of plant, soil moisture, and season of burn [23,101].

FIRE REGIMES for plant communities in which prairie Junegrass occurs are summarized below. For further information regarding FIRE REGIMES and fire ecology of communities where prairie Junegrass is found, see 'Fire Ecology and Adaptations' section of the FEIS species summary for the plant community or ecosystem.

Community or Ecosystem Dominant Species Fire Return Interval Range in Years (mean) Pacific ponderosa pine* Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa 1-47 [25] interior ponderosa pine* P. ponderosa var. scopulorum 2-200 [25] Colorado pinyon P. edulis 10-49 [25] Mexican pinyon P. cembroides 20-70 [115,116 Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir* Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca 25-100 [25] coastal Douglas-fir* Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii 40-240 [25,79,94] quaking aspen (west of the Great Plains) Populus tremuloides 7-100 [48,75] oak-hickory Quercus-Carya spp. 50-100 [1] Texas savanna Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa 25] California montane chaparral Ceanothus and/or Arctostaphylos spp. 50-100 [25] basin big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata 12-43 [99] mountain big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana 5-15 [127] Wyoming big sagebrush Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis 10-70 (40) [118,127] mountain grasslands Pseudoroegneria spicata 3-40 (10) [7] plains grasslands Bouteloua gracilis and/or Buchloe dactyloides 20-40 [25] prairie Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii 1-6 [66]

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More info for the term: climax

Prairie Junegrass acts as a seral recolonizer of previously water-stressed areas [122] and played a leading role in recolonizing bare soil of mid-continental grasslands after the droughts of 1933 to 1940 [121].

Prairie Junegrass is part of seral western juniper sites [35]. Prairie Junegrass also occurs in several climax communities. See the 'Habitat Types and Plant Communities' section of this species summary.

More info for the term: presence

Regeneration is accomplished by seed, which ripens late summer to fall [110] and by sprouting from the residual plant [23,120]. Prairie Junegrass seeds are relatively small (4,000 gram-1 reported by Eddleman [40] and 3,125 gram-1 reported by Nernberg [83]) and of low viability [78,83,110].

Temperature, soil moisture and seasonality provide cues for germination of prairie Junegrass [40,104,112]. A comparison of germination and emergence of prairie Junegrass at 45 (7°C), 55 (13°C), 64 (18°C) and 80 (27°C) degrees Fahrenheit, showed the greatest % emergence at 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18°C) [104]. Blake [18] observed good germination within silt loam at 1/2 and 1/3 saturation. Prairie Junegrass also possesses the ability to germinate under periods of water stress. Germination responses were observed at water potential between 0 to 12 bars [40].

A seedbank evaluation of prairie Junegrass found that seed was infrequent or absent within sampled areas, although prairie Junegrass was a significant member of the plant community [112]. Seedbank germination response to seasonality was also measured. Prairie Junegrass showed no seedling establishment during early spring (May and June) [112]. Large peaks were observed during late summer and autumn [112].

The presence of mycorrhizae may have a significant (p< 0.05) positive effect on seedling emergence [51]. Neutral effects have also been reported [124].

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More info for the term: hemicryptophyte

Hemicryptophyte

More info for the term: graminoid

Graminoid

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More info for the term: avoidance

Prairie Junegrass has a wide distribution, so only a general description of seasonal development is given. Avoidance of growth during dry, summer months is ubiquitous [11]. Development is associated with rapid, early, spring growth [11,29] with maximum leaf growth taking place the first half of May [11].

Mature Foliage Height (%) Mid-April 65% End of May 90% (Observed within sandhills region of Nebraska)

Flowering usually occurs late spring to early summer [52]. First appearance of flowers occurs in southern regions, flowering progressively later to the north and west [74]. Prairie Junegrass is one of the earliest grasses to flower in the southern United States [74].

Initiation of growth is correlated with soil temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4°C) and air temperature just below 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5°C) [29]. Blaisdell [17] observed seasonal development of prairie Junegrass in southern Idaho over six years. Mean initiation of growth occurred at the beginning of April, 10 to 15 days after disappearance of snow (4/2). Flower stalks formed at the beginning of May (5/7) with a fully developed inflorescence occurring by June 1st. Flowers bloomed mid- June (6/17) with seed ripening occurring mid-July (7/10). Seed dissemination started mid-July (7/15) and ended mid-August (8/11).

Case studies have given the following as typical flowering months: [17,31,37,54,95]

Beginning of Flowering End of Flowering Colorado April June Idaho May - June June - July Montana May July North Dakota June July Saskatchewan June June - July

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 16
Specimens with Barcodes: 19
Species With Barcodes: 1

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species).

Prairie junegrass may be vulnerable to some insects such as the striped flea beetle which will cause the leaf tips to wilt.

More info for the terms: association, cover, density, frequency, genotype, phenotype, presence

Obtaining prairie Junegrass seed from plants within similar environments (i.e. elevation, climate), may be
significant for re-establishing vigorous populations. A correlation between genotype and phenotype of individuals
from different habitats has been observed [95].

Grazing on prairie Junegrass populations has both positive and negative results
[15,39,80,88,102,103].
Evaluations of grazing are difficult because growing conditions may prove more significant than grazing pressure.
Important grazing considerations for prairie Junegrass include site characteristics (e.g. soil, elevation) [109], environmental conditions
[69,105], growing season, and frequency
[69]. A study comparing rotational grazing (1½ months spring and 1½
months fall every other year) and continuous grazing saw increases under both regimes; precipitation was above the
long term average [103]. A study comparing rotational grazing and season long grazing
on a native northern mixed-grass prairie of North Dakota was associated with positive responses in prairie Junegrass
basal cover between the 1st and 4th year. Degenerative effects were seen in the 6th year [15].
Prairie Junegrass responds well to grazing and is more palatable in spring and fall
[114,117]. In general,
grazing conducted August through October is sustainable, if adequate moisture is available
[24]. Maintaining a 3 inch (7.6 cm) stubble is recommended for seral communities
of the Great Basin, Pacific Northwest and northern Great Plains [80].
The increased presence of invasive plant species in areas with prairie Junegrass has led to studies evaluating the use of
herbicidal controls. Tordon and Transline were evaluated for control of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)
on native grasslands. No negative effects were documented for prairie Junegrass and increases in native grass density
were observed [93]. Tebuthiuron applied to control sagebrush in Idaho had no
effect on prairie Junegrass canopy cover at application rates reaching 1.1 kg ha -1
[123].
Correlations between mycorrhizal associations and prairie Junegrass stage of development have been observed. Positive
associations are seen within early seedling development [51]. In later developmental
stages, a negative association was documented within several grassland communities. In the absence of vesicular
arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) in low P soils, prairie Junegrass outcompeted big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii); t
he opposite was true in the presence of VAM and P [52]. Suppression of mycorrhizal
symbiosis increased the biomass of prairie Junegrass within a experimental tall-grass prairie consisting of big
bluestem, purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), speedwell (Veronica fasciculata) and tall blazing
star (Liatris aspera) [124].

‘Barkoel’ prairie junegrass is the only release of this species. It originates from Barenbrug, Holland, Oosterhout, The Netherlands. It is a selection of clones after three years of testing under turf conditions. The clones were chosen on basis of good winter color and good seed yield. Barkoel is intended for use as a cool-season turfgrass and not intended for native plantings. Seed is available through Barenbrug USA, PO Box 239, Tangent, OR 97389, (503) 926-5801.

Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone book under ”United States Government.” The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading “Department of Agriculture.”

Seed production of prairie junegrass has been successful under cultivated conditions. Row spacing of 24 inches under irrigation or high precipitation (> 16 inches annual precipitation) to 36 inches under dryland conditions is recommended. Seeding rates for seed production range from 0.75 pound PLS per acre on dryland to 1.0 pound PLS per acre under irrigated conditions.

It should be seeded in locations where weeds are well controlled. Prairie junegrass seedlings are not vigorous, are slow to establish and are therefore vulnerable to mechanical (wheel and foot traffic) and chemical damage. Wait until the 3- 5 leaf stage before applying herbicides at a low rate (bromoxynil according to label) or clipping for weed control. Cultivation between rows will be needed for weed control and to maintain row culture.

Seed fields are productive for about 4- 5 years. Field moisture during the fall, soil fertility, and plant re-growth determine the yield the succeeding year.

Average production of 75 pounds per acre can be expected under dryland conditions in 16- inch plus rainfall areas. Average production of 100- 150 pounds per acre can be expected under irrigated conditions.

Harvesting can be completed by direct combining in the hard-dough stage or by windrowing followed by combining. Windrowing may help ensure a more complete threshing and more uniform in ripening. Windrowing also reduces the risk of loss of seed from wind. Seed is generally harvested from early July to late August. Seed must be dried immediately after combining (moisture content should be 12 percent in bins/15 percent in sacks).

Not all native ecotypes readily produce viable seed. Many ecotypes generally go through anthesis, but not all will produce viable seed at an economically acceptable level.

Prairie junegrass is medium-lived native species, spreading primarily via seed. It is not considered to be "weedy" or an invasive species, but it can spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. It does not generally spread from original stands, or if it does spread, the rate of spread is slow.

During the second to third growing season, seedheads will flower in mid-April to mid-June. Seed reaches maturity in July through August depending on latitude and elevation. Fall regrowth can occur if soil moisture conditions are favorable.

Prairie junegrass greens up early in the spring. Grazing deferment until plants are 4- 6 inches tall is recommended to ensure the health of the plant and to reduce over-grazing. It is considered good forage in early spring, but as it matures in later spring, it becomes tough and less palatable. This grass has moderate to high tolerance to grazing.

Prairie junegrass tends to increase in percent cover following fire events and is very resistant to fire.

Grazing/Livestock – Prairie junegrass is a component of many native plant communities. It commonly represents up to 5 percent of the community. It greens up early in the spring and provides good early spring forage and fair late spring forage for livestock.

Wildlife – Prairie junegrass is considered a fair to good forage for elk throughout the year and is desirable forage for deer and antelope in the spring and early summer.

Reclamation – Prairie junegrass is used as a component of native seed mixtures in revegetation of mined lands, heavy use areas and other surface disturbed lands.