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Pinegrass

Calamagrostis rubescens

Pinegrass

APPEARANCE

Pinegrass grows 60 to 100 centimetres tall and has long leaves and purplish stems. It is a dense growing grass; the leaf blades grow close together.

RANGE & HABITAT

Pinegrass grows in dry clearings and forests. In B.C., this plant grows in the Southern Interior and Sub-Boreal Interior ecoprovinces.

LIFE CYCLE

Flowers grow in the form of small, greenish clumps. Seeds are spread by animals and birds that eat them, and by wind and animal’s fur.

ANIMAL USES

Pinegrass is eaten by bear, elk and deer. It also provides some cover for small birds and mammals.

TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

Pinegrass is used when making soap berry (buffalo berry) cakes, and for covering food. It was can be woven into socks and insoles for moccasins.

OTHER USES

No reported uses

STATUS

COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow

MORE INFORMATION

www.linnet.geog.ubc.ca

Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie