Elymus submuticus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades 15–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 10–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 13–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 4–7 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above and on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume margins scaberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 3–5 -veined. Lemma surface hispidulous; hairy above. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada and northwest USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Piper 2004.

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