# American lyme grass (*Leymus mollis*)

American lyme grass is a tall, green plant that grows in sandy areas near the coast. It helps keep the sand in place and provides a home for little animals.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![American lyme grass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Leymusmollis.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Gordon Leppig & Andrea J. Pickart, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leymusmollis.jpg)

## Appearance

The American lyme grass is a tall, robust plant with distinctive bluish-green to grayish-green leaves. Its upright stems produce dense, bristly flower spikes that turn golden brown later in the season. It often forms large, prominent clumps along sandy coastlines.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Poales
- **Family:** Poaceae
- **Genus:** Leymus

## Interesting facts

- Even if sand buries part of this grass, it can still grow upwards to reach the sunlight!
- Its tough leaves were woven into baskets and mats by ancient coastal communities!
- Many shorebirds rely on its tiny seeds as a crucial snack, especially during migration!
- When wind blows sand, this grass helps trap it, slowly building up new dunes over time!

## Special abilities

- **Anchor Roots:** American lyme grass has a super deep and extensive root system that helps it hold shifting sand dunes firmly in place.
- **Rhizome Runners:** This grass can send out underground stems called rhizomes, which helps it spread quickly and create new plants.
- **Salt Shield:** Its specialized leaves can tolerate salty spray and soil, allowing it to thrive right next to the ocean.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-180 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Snow Bunting](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-bunting) (*Plectrophenax nivalis*) — Seeds provide winter food.
- **Shelter:** [Deer Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — Provides safe nesting sites.
- **Eaten by:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — Feeds on its leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves.
- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always be gentle with plants and don't pull them out of the ground.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify American lyme grass?

Compare seed heads, stem shape, how leaves attach, and the joint where leaf meets stem. A patch of mown lawn rarely shows enough for an exact ID. Grass Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is American lyme grass?

60-180 cm

### How wide does American lyme grass spread?

30-100 cm

### When does American lyme grass bloom?

Summer

### Is American lyme grass edible?

Yes

### Is American lyme grass toxic?

None

### What is American lyme grass's lifecycle?

Perennial

### How is American lyme grass pollinated?

Wind

## Where to spot

- [Sabine Channel Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabine-channel-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park
- [Parc national du Bic](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/parc-national-du-bic) — Québec, CA · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [American lyme grass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-lyme-grass)