Pinegrass
Calamagrostis rubescens
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