- Also called basin wildrye and Giant wildrye - Great Basin Wildrye is not tolerant of heavy grazing, due to the high position of the growth buds (4 to 6 inches above the soil). When managed correctly, it provides an abundance of good, palatable forage during the early spring months, particularly for cattle. Forage is fair for sheep and wildlife. It is relatively unpalatable in the summer. It is especially useful for winter feed for most classes of livestock because it is found above the snowline, but requires a protein supplement. To best maintain stands of Basin wildrye, it is best grazed during the late fall and winter, when plants are dormant. If grazed in spring or summer, use should be light. Heavy grazing during these times will cause stands to degrade. Basin wildrye is highly palatable to elk in spring and summer, and highly palatable to mule deer in spring. It provides important cover and winter forage for elk and deer. It also provides habitat for upland game birds and food for songbirds and small mammals. Basin wildrye provides excellent surface erosion control and soil stabilization and can be a valuable restoration species wherever moisture is adequate. It can be hard to establish due to a lack of highly germinable seed. Seeds of Basin wildrye were commonly used by many Native Americans in the Great Basin. Roots collected in winter months are stiff, and covered by a spongy, fibrous coating. When cleaned, these were fashioned into hair and cleaning brushes.
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