| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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Jepson Interchange (more information) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.
Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Latin & Greek: pasture wheat)
Reference: [Barkworth & Dewey 1985 Amer J Bot 72:767–776]
| Native |
Perennial, from rhizomes
Stem erect, (2)4–9 dm, glaucous
Leaves basal and cauline, glaucous; ligule membranous; sheath appendages 1–2 mm, clasping; blade flat, rolled when dry
Inflorescence 4–15 cm, spike-like; spikelets 2-ranked, overlapping, 1(2) per node
Spikelet: glumes subequal, < or = lower floret, glabrous to rough, tapered from middle to acute tip, 3-veined in lower half, midvein curving slightly to side; axis breaking above glumes and between florets; florets 4–11; lemma 8–14 mm, glabrous to hairy, awn < 5(15) mm; anthers 2–4.5 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=56
Ecology: Uncommon. Dry, alkaline soils, flats
Elevation: 1500–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: Great Basin Floristic Province, Desert Mountains (New York Mtns)
Distribution outside California: to s Canada, Great Plains
Flowering time: Jun–Aug
Synonyms: Agropyron s. Rydb
Polyploid derived from hybrid between Elymus and Leymus.