Elymus hystrix

HABIT Perennial. Culms 60–120 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–15 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear; 5–10 mm long.

Spikelets spreading; in threes, or clustered at each node. Fertile spikelets sessile; 3–4 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure, or one the lower absent or obscure; persistent. Upper glume subulate; 0–1 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–40 mm long overall.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, eastern Canada, north-central USA, northeast USA, and southeast USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Man Gr US 1994.

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