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Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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POACEAE

GRASS FAMILY

James P. Smith, Jr., except as specified

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.

LEYMUS

Mary E. Barkworth

Perennial, generally from rhizomes
Leaf: ligule membranous; blade flat or rolled, strongly ribbed above, glabrous or hairy
Inflorescence generally spike-like (panicle-like in L. condensatus), dense, generally > upper cauline leaves; some nodes with 2+, generally sessile spikelets
Spikelet: glumes < spikelet, lanceolate, membranous, flexible or narrowly lanceolate to awl-like, stiff; axis breaking above glumes and between florets; florets 2–7; lemma acute to short-awned; palea < lemma; anthers 2.5–7 mm
Species in genus: 31 species: North America., Eurasia
Etymology: (Anagram of Elymus)
Reference: [Barkworth & Atkins 1984 Amer J Bot 71:609–625]
Some species important in revegetation, often on saline soils. Sometimes treated in Elymus.

Native

L. X multiflorus (Gould) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey

Plant cespitose; rhizomes short
Stem 6.5–20 dm, 3.5–5 mm diam at base, generally glabrous
Leaf: blade 6–15 mm wide
Inflorescence 12–40 cm; spikelets sessile or stalked
Spikelet: glumes > lower floret, awl-like; lemma glabrous
Chromosomes: 2n=42
Ecology: Open areas, often saline soils
Elevation: < 300 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Joaquin Valley, Central Western California
Synonyms: Elymus triticoides Buckley subsp. m. Gould
Hybrid between L. triticoides and L. condensatus.
Horticultural information: STBL.

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bioregional map for LEYMUS%20&mathx;multiflorus being generated
 

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