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Leymus Multicaulis
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Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Genus:	Leymus
Species:	Multicaulis
Binomial name
Leymus Multicaulis

Leymus Multicaulis

Leymus multicaulis, also known as manystem wild rye or many-stem lyme grass, is a species of the Leymus Genus. The species name of Manystem Wild rye, multicaulis, suggests the “many stems” of the species. Leymus multicaulis is considered as a type of grass. Manystem Wild rye has only one cotyledon in its seeds. The xylem and phloem within the roots are formed in a ring pattern. The vascular bundles are scattered throughout the stem. These traits make the Leymus Multicaulis a monocot. Leymus Multicaulis is a flowering plant and considered an angiosperm.

Morphology

Leymus multicaulis can grow up to 19 to 32 inches tall. Leymus multicaulis grows in dense clumps, containing multiple stems. This wild rye can start its growth from a seed or a rhizome, growing into mature roots and stems. The stems are node-less and smooth. Hair follicles can be found on the stem, helping Leymus multicaulis trap water. The leaf blades are a dark-shade of green. The leaves of Leymus multicaulis are inelastic in its early stages of growth. Once the plant has matured the leaves become rolled. The veins on the leaf form a parallel pattern, containing primary and secondary veins. The veins are widely spaced throughout the leaf. Leymus multicaulis is an allopolyploid organism. It contains multiple complete sets of chromosomes.

Habitat and Ecology

Leymus multicaulis originates from Eurasia. Extending from the Volga River Delta to Xinjiang, China. Only recently has the Leymus multicaulis been introduced to the United States, particularly in the western regions, mainly Wyoming and Montana. Manystem Wild rye is adapted to regions in alkaline meadows and saline soils. Also found often as a weed throughout fields, roadsides and around human habitats. Leymus Multicaulis is a custom in wet saline meadows, where there is heavy rainfall. From mountainous areas to bottomlands, Leymus multicaulis is able to grow productively. It is able to tolerate strong alkaline and saline soils. Unlike the other species of the Leymus Genera, Leymus Multicaulis can tolerate harsh winter conditions.

Usage

There are many uses for Leymus Multicaulis. Many Leymus species are primarily used as a food source. Leymus Multicaulis is mainly used for recovery of wet, saline soils. It can also be put to use on saline-affected, weakened cropland and pastureland. Manystem Wild Rye has many uses for maintaining cropland and pastureland throughout Eurasia and Western United States. It helps in retaining the soil healthy by inhibiting wind and water destruction.It is also a major food source to livestock as well as to the rest of the wild life.

Establishment

Leymus multicaulis is a relatively easy plant to grow. In northern regions, it is highly recommended to plant Leymus Multicaulis seeds during the fall season. This allows the seed coat to become more active. If planted during the spring, the seed coat stays inactive and must be mechanically broken. One to two years are required for the manystem wild rye to grow into a mature plant. Seeds are initially weak and develop at slow rates. The seedlings are no match in opposition to weeds, and often are damaged by the surrounding weeds. It is best to plant a seedling in an area with low concentration of weeds. Leymus multicaulis is tolerant to cold weather; this allows the wild rye to continue development as the winter season passes. If the new plant was to develop from a rhizome instead of a seed, it will develop slowly throughout the first as seen in the seedling development. Yet the rhizome developed plant spreads more rapidly compared to a seed originating plant. Once the plant has matured, the manystem wild rye grass can live a long life. The surroundings of the matured Leymus multicaulis can influence the lifespan of the plant. For example, if the matured plant is in an area with high concentration of nitrogen, it is in a healthy environment and will have a longer lifespan. If there are high concentrations of salt and low levels of moisture it will not survive very long. The environment of the developing Leymus multicaulis plays a major role in the lifespan of the plant.

Research with Leymus Multicaulis

Its different traits from the other species in the Leymus genus allow it to be a popular species to study. Morphology and Cytology of Intergeneric Hybrids involving Leymus multicaulis is a research project conducted by Gen-Lou Sun, Chi-Yen, and Jun-Liang Yang in 1994. They hybridized Leymus multicaulis with three different species. Psathyrostachys Huashanica, Psathyrostachys Juncea and Leymus Secalinus were hybridized with Leymus multicaulis. Sun, Yang and Yen tested and studied the morphology and meiotic behavior in the pollen mother cells of the hybrid species. They found that the hybrid species showed intraspecific pairing between the Leymus species, being more frequent in Leymus and wheat hybrids. The Morphology and Cytology of Intergenic Hybrids involving Leymus multicaulis study aided another research conducted. Genomic and Genetic relationships among species of Leymus (Poaceae: Triticeae) inferred from 18S-26S ribosomal genes studied bye Kesara Anamthawat-Jónsson and Sigrídur K Bödvarsdóttir. This study used the results of the previous case to find large genetic diversity within the Leymus and Psathyrostachys.

References

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=g7w63515325t6364&size=largest

http://www.amjbot.org/content/88/4/553.full

http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/plants/technotes/pmtechnoteMT72.html

http://myfolia.com/plants/46290-manystem-wildrye-leymus-multicaulis

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LEMU11