Elymus bakeri

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation prominent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 9–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 5–9 mm long.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 11–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–8 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 11–12 mm long; 0.66 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–8 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; spreading; 10–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, northeast USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Nelson 2004.

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