Elymus svensonii

HABIT Perennial. Culms 80–100 cm long; 2 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–25 cm long; 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; bilateral; 12–16 cm long. Rhachis ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear; 8–10 mm long.

Spikelets spreading; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 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. Lower glume subulate; 1–18 mm long. Upper glume subulate; 1–18 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; 12–20 mm long overall. Palea 8–9 mm long. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back. Palea apex truncate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; ciliate; 2-toothed. Anthers 3; 5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southeast USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Church 2004.

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