Elymus pringlei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 50–110 cm long; 6–9 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; pilose; with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 3–12 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous to pilose.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 4–12 cm long; 20–30 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 3–6 mm long.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5(–6) 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 persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume subulate; 12–22 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; 0–1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume subulate; 12–22 mm long; 0–1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein absent, or distinct. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 8–22 mm long overall. Palea 7–8 mm long. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl N Amer 2007.

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