New Mexico State University
College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences | ACES
NMSU: Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands

Diné bikéyah Chi’l nooséłígíí Bąąhą́ą́nosin
Take care of our Navajo Rangelands

Wheatgrass, western

(a.k.a. Agropyron smithii)
Tł’oolé
Growth habit with long, linear stems and seedheads that bend very slightly
Patrick Alexander

Western wheatgrass is a long-lived species that has coarse blue-green leaves with prominent veins. It is a sod former with very strong, spreading rhizomes. Stems arise singly or in clusters of a few, and reach heights of 1 to 3 feet.

Western wheatgrass provides early spring forage and is palatable to all livestock

A dry seed spike
Patrick Alexander
Leaf sheath with distinct striations
Patrick Alexander
Inflorescence
Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, Leith Young, & Richard Felger
Close-up of inflorescence
Russ Kleinman, Bill Norris, Leith Young, & Richard Felger
Scientific Name
Pascopyrum smithii
Plant Type
Grass / Grasslike
Growing Season
Warm Season
Habitat
Grasslands
Other Traits
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Early spring forage is palatable to all livestock

For definitions, see the glossary.

©2018 NMSU Board of Regents.
Individual photographers retain all rights to their images.
Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023.
Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people.