Thinopyrum intermedium

Thinopyrum intermedium, known commonly as intermediate wheatgrass, is a sod-forming perennial grass in the Triticeae tribe of Pooideae. It is part of a group of plants commonly called wheatgrasses because of the similarity of their seed heads or 'ears' to common wheat. However the wheatgrasses, in general, are perennial, while wheat is an annual. The grass is native to Europe and Western Asia. Trials with intermediate wheatgrass, the product of which is trademarked by the Land Institute as 'Kernza,' show that it can be grown as a “multi-functional” crop, yielding various commodities as well as ecosystem services. Whereas annuals such as corn tend to deplete soil organic matter and require inputs, a perennial grain such as intermediate wheatgrass can yield crops while building soil organic matter. Many scientific binomial names have been given to the species Thinopyrum intermedium. Multiple species or subspecies have been described based on different morphologies, like the presence or absence of pubescence. Here is a partial list of the binomial synonyms for Thinopyrum intermedium: Intermediate wheatgrass is the most widely used common name for Thinopyrum intermedium in the United States. The name 'intermediate' probably refers to the height of the plant, which is generally somewhat shorter than Thinopyrum ponticum, known by the common name of 'tall wheatgrass.' Wild triga is the common name that was given to Thinopyrum intermedium by researchers at The Rodale Institute. The name was intended to distinguish varieties of the species developed for use as a perennial grain crop from forage cultivars which are identified by the common name 'intermediate wheatgrass.' Kernza is a trademarked name held by the Land Institute for the processed grains of intermediate wheatgrass. The native range of intermediate wheatgrass extends from central and southeastern Europe to Asia Minor. Although it was first brought to the United States in 1907, the first successful introduction to that country was from the Caucasus region in 1932. The plant can now be found growing wild throughout the Western United States and Western Canada. Thinopyrum intermedium is best adapted to: