Elymus virginicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades 5–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 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.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; gibbous; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 10–15 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; gibbous; 10–15 mm long; 1.2–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10–15 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–25 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, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Gr Tex 1993.

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