Thinopyrum intermedium

Intermediate Wheatgrass

Thinopyrum intermedium, common name Intermediate Wheatgrass.	Like all wheatgrasses, this one has its spikelets attached directly to the rachis--a true spike.	The spikelets are large. Some plants (a subspecies) have tiny hairs like these on the lemma edges.
The massive roots show that the plant is perennial.	Stem with leaf, seedhead parts, and two seadheads. Tiny "worms" are the anthers. Spikelets curl back from the rachis like a saluting hand.	Glume tops of Thinopyrum intermedium are not flat, but oblique or pointed.

How to Identify Thinopyrum intermedium

  Thinopyrum is a genus of tall grasses with long-spiked seedheads whose thick, robust spikelets are spaced out along the stem (rachis). The spikelets of other wheat-like grasses (except commercial wheat) are much more delicate. The tall plant is quite distinctive with its thick stems and characteristic long, narrow seedheads.

Similar Species

  A person can recognize the distinctive Thinopyrum genus from the roadside because of its tall, narrow culm and seedheads. However, Arizona has two species in the genus, Thinopyrum intermedium and Thinopyrum ponticum (tall wheatgrass). These are very similar and the sizes overlap, but T. ponticum can grow to larger size. At maximum, T. intermedium is a substancial four feet tall, but T. ponticum grows to 6.5 feet, taller than most people. So, if the plants are over four feet, it is T. ponticum.

  Another difference is in the shape of the tops of the glumes. Ideally, in T. ponticum, the glume tops are cut off squarely and evenly, while those of T. intermedium are oblique or pointy like in the last picture above. Unfortunately, this is not always true. You might have to take apart a spikelet to check for this.