Elymus glaucus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–10 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–6 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–15 mm long; 0.75–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic to oblong; 6–12 mm long; coriaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–30 mm long overall. 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; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Triticeae. Gr Baja Cal 1994.

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