Elymus churchii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–120 cm long; 4–8 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1–2 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; bilateral; 10–18 cm long; 30–50 mm wide. Rhachis ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3(–5) 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 two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet, or reaching apex of florets. Lower glume subulate; 0–15 mm long; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume subulate; 0–15 mm long; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; (10–)20–30(–35) mm long overall. Palea 7–9 mm long.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA and southeast USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Campbell 2007.

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