R.E. Brooks & J. Campbell
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.791665
Element CodePMPOA2H1V0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusProvisional
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusElymus
Other Common NamesEarly Wildrye (EN) early wildrye (EN) Élyme de MacGregor (FR) MacGregor's Wildrye (EN)
Concept ReferenceCampbell, J.J.N. 2000. Notes on North American Elymus species (Poaceae) with paired spikelets: I. E. macgregorii sp. nov. and E. glaucus ssp. mackenzii comb. nov. Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science 61: 88-98.
Taxonomic CommentsElymus macgregorii was described in Campbell (2000) and also recognized by Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2007). Per Weakley (2015) Elymus macgregorii is narrower than E. virginicus var. virginicus of Kartesz (1994, 1999).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-01-29
Change Date2017-07-10
Edition Date2025-01-29
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Rank ReasonsElymus macgregorii is a wide-ranging perennial graminoid in alluvial forests occurring in eastern and central North America from Ontario, Canada south into the United States from Maine west to South Dakota south to Florida and Texas. It is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, invasive species, and erosion. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsElymus macgregorii occurs in eastern and central North America from Ontario, Canada south into the United States from Maine west to South Dakota south to Florida and Texas (FNA 2007). Range extent was estimated to be over 2.7 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 240 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, invasive species, erosion, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.