Koeleria macrantha / Prairie Junegrass

Adjectives: drought tolerant, early spring, edible, exposed, grass, grasslands/meadows, native, nutrient poor soils

Also known as: Junegrass, crested hairgrass
Synonyms: six former Koeleria names. and two Aira spp.

Note: grasses have a nomenclature all their own, much different from that of dicots. A good resource/slide show from the University of Idaho on grass structures is available here.

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Prairie Junegrass is a perennial, native grass with circumpolar distribution. It is a short, tuft-forming bunchgrass meaning it does not spread by rhizomes but grows in small clumps or tufts, 2-6″ in diameter. Seeds are it’s only way of reproduction. It may grow to a height of about two feet.

It starts growth in the early spring, flowers in June and July, produces seed through September. If moisture is adequate, it may regrow in the fall. Because of its early start, it usually reaches the blossom stage before most other grasses (except, perhaps, cheatgrass).

Junegrass leaves are blue-green, basal and 1½ to 5 inches long. The leaves may sometimes be slightly pubescent but are basically not. The blades are narrow, flat or rolled, and curly when dry. The veins are markedly raised, making the upper surface feel rough. Leaf tips are boat-shaped and pointed. If you peel back the leaves, the ligules are really short and there are no auricles.

The inflorescence is a nearly cylindrical spike-like panicle, tapering at both ends. Forget the jargon, here, and look at the photos. Overall, they are 2-5″ long. The stalks stand much above the leaves. The individual spikelets are shiny and tan, maybe a bit purple, and only about ¼ inch long. They open out a bit during flowering.

The Junegrass fruit is a grain that breaks (shatters) once it is fully ripe.

Although it may be planted as a turf grass, e.g. for golf course roughs, Junegrass normally grows in scattered populations—accounting for less than 5% of vegetation cover in natural settings—and mostly in rocky or sandy forests or plains. It definitely prefers full sunlight.

Interesting bits: Despite its poor ability to spread, Junegrass played an important role in prairie revegetation following the droughts and dust storms in the 1930s. It has also been planted in some areas prone to frequent wildfires due to its fire resistant qualities: because of its small size and coarse leaves, it burns fast and transfers little heat to the soil. Its wide spacing means that when it burns, it does little damage.

Junegrass is a good forage for many types of grazing animals, domestic and wild, especially in spring and especially in environments challenging to other plant life. These include, deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. The seeds provide feed for upland game birds and small mammals.

It is probably good (for us) that it is not a dominant species in its habitat because it is also a severe allergen.