Eastern Riverbank Wildrye

Elymus riparius

Pollinator Value

❄️ Winter Food Source: Elymus seeds are consumed by several bird species including Snow Bunting (Calcariidae), Gray Partridge (Phasianidae), and Greater White-fronted Goose (Anatidae). Seed period extends from summer through fall, though USDA rates seed persistence as low, limiting late-winter availability.
S57 genus-level avian diet records; S11 Fruit/Seed Period Begin=Summer, End=Fall, Persistence=No

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Ranked S3 (Vulnerable) in Quebec and S4 (Apparently Secure) in Ontario. Globally secure (G5) with a national rank of N4 in Canada. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Quebec populations are concentrated along rivers in the St. Lawrence Lowlands and southern Laurentians, with 20 herbarium specimens documented in the province.
S22 G5, N4, S3 QC, S4 ON; S26 not SARA listed; S54 20 QC specimens
Rarity Ranks: QC S3 – Vulnerable, ON S4 – Apparently Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A cool-season bunch grass of riparian corridors and floodplain forests. Found on alluvial clay and loam soils along larger streams, where it occupies the upper bank zone subject to periodic inundation. In Quebec, herbarium specimens document it along the Petite Nation, Trout, and Yamaska rivers, with habitats including deciduous woods, riverbanks, and occasionally peatland margins. Associates include Acer rubrum, Tilia americana, and Solidago gigantea in floodplain forest settings.
S61 alluvial soils in riparian zone; S48 QC specimens on river banks and deciduous woods; S7 moist ground along streams, floodplain forest

Roles: Fire Retardant, Fortress/Barrier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fire Retardant: S73 [MEDIUM]: S11 Fire Tolerance = High (not definitional)] | Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: prickl (supporting signal only)]

❌ Not Edible