Allergy Information

Although the grass family in general is considered significant allergenically, this genus is not typically considered to be problematic.

Genus Details

Wild rye is an herb with rounded stems. The leaves are alternate in two rows and are simple. Flowers are small, irregular and have spikelets arranged in long flower clusters called panicles. Wild rye is commonly found in fields, pastures and along road sides. Wild rye flowers in summer through early autumn. It sheds abundant pollen which is wind dispersed.

Pollen Description

Grains are spheroidal to ovoidal, sometimes elliptical. The exine is thin and the surface is granular to finely reticuloid. Poaceae apertures are 1-porate, with the pores usually circular to ovoidal.

Grains are 22-122 micrometers in diameter.

Genus Distribution

The shaded areas on the map indicates where the genus has been observed in the United States.

- Native, observed in a county 

- Introduced, observed in a county 

- Rarely observed