It is a common and widespread species of wild rye. The dunes were eventually stabilized by sand-binding grasses such as wild rye and wheat grass. Elymus elymoides is a species of wild rye known by the common name squirreltail. Elymus trachycaulus is a species of wild rye known by the common name slender wheatgrass. Its name comes from the wild rye once plentiful in the area. Elymus multisetus is a species of wild rye known by the common name big squirreltail. Common grasses on the mountain include Idaho fescue, bluebunch wheatgrass, wild rye, prairie junegrass. Canada wild rye is a perennial bunchgrass reaching heights of . However, wheat is an annual plant, while wild rye is a perennial. Wild rye is a common name used for several grasses. Manystem wild rye is adapted to alkaline meadows and saline soils. Manystem wild rye has only one cotyledon in each of its seeds. Once the plant has matured, the manystem wild rye grass can live a long life.