Elymus albicans

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose. Rhizomes elongated; wiry. Culms 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow. Leaf-sheaths pubescent, or pilose. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1–1.5 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades involute; 2–4 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 4–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; spreading; 10–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, and southwest USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Man Gr US 2004.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.