| Agropyron spicatum |
| Bluebunch wheatgrass |
Key Characteristics
Densely tufted glaucous-green perennial grass of the western Upper Peninsula; leaves very narrow (< 3 mm), involute; lemmas with awns strongly spreading.
Status and Rank
- State Status: X - Presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered)
- State Rank: SX - Presumed extirpated
- Global Rank: G5 - Secure
Occurrences
No known occurrences in Michigan
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
This species was collected only once in 1895 from rocky bluffs in Keweenaw County. Further west in the main portion of its range, it is knowns from dry prairies and open dry woods, as well as slopes, canyons, bluffs, and rocky outcrops.
Natural Community Types
Associated Plants
Virtually no collection data for a single Michigan collection, where it was found on bluffs in Keweenaw Co.
Management
A western disjunct species from one collection; may very likely persist on rocky bluffs in the Keweenaw peninsula and elsewhere in the western U.P. Management should simply seek to maintain appropriate habitat. In sensitive areas, intensive recreation such as rockclimbing that may denude areas of vegetation should be limited.
General Survey Guidelines
Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgement of the investigator.
Survey Methods
- Meander search
Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of August
References
Survey References
- Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.
- Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316
- Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.
- Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.
- Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.
Technical References
- Dore, W.G. and J. McNeill. 1980. Grasses of Ontario. Agriculture Canada Research Monographs 26: 566pp.
- Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.
- Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.
- Hitchcock, A. S. 1951. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. Second ed. Revised by A. Chase. U.S. Department of Agriculture Miscellaneous Publications 200. 1051pp.
- Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.
- Voss, E. G. 1972. Michigan Flora. Part I. Gymnosperms and Monocots. Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 488pp.