Elymus villosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 60–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; bilateral; 5–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar. Lower glume subulate; 12–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Upper glume subulate; 12–20 mm long; coriaceous; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; 1.2 mm wide; coriaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 10–30 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: eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Man US Gr 1994.

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