wild rye

American  

noun

1. any grass of the genus Elymus, somewhat resembling rye.

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wild rye British  

noun

1. any of various perennial grasses of the N temperate genus Elymus, resembling cultivated rye in having paired bristly ears or spikes and flat leaves

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Etymology

Origin of wild rye

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wild rye

They also are restoring burned areas with native plants, including coastal sagebrush species and giant wild rye.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2019

The park has 335 acres of green space seeded with fescue, bluestem, wild rye and other native grasses.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 9, 2014

A Canadian wild rye, new as a forage crop, promises heavier yields than the common meadow grass.

From Time Magazine Archive

Sage hens, grouse, and squirrels help to vary their wild diet of worms; pine nuts also from the small interesting Pinus monophylla, and good bread and good mush are made from acorns and wild rye.

From My First Summer in the Sierra by Muir, John

And in the evenings towards sunset they walked together in the fields, and Mary followed them, lagging behind in the borders where the sharlock and wild rye and poppies grew.

From Mary Olivier: a Life by Sinclair, May