The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California

    THIS PAGE IS NO LONGER UPDATED
    AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY
  • Up-to-date information about California vascular plants is available from the Jepson eFlora.

Names are linked to treatments from the Manual


Key to ELYMUS

N.B.: couplets are linked, e.g., 1. is linked to 1'.

  1. Glumes 0; top of stalk below lower floret ± knot-like, minutely hairy
E. californicus
  1' Glumes present, lanceolate to awl-like
 
    2. Glumes awn- to awl-like, base generally < 1.5 mm wide, awn 25–100 mm
 
      3. Spikelets 3 per node; central spikelet fertile; lateral spikelets sterile, ± glume-like, florets vestigial
E. elymoides subsp. hordeoides
      3' Spikelets generally 2(3) per node; lateral spikelets with some fertile florets
 
        4. Lower spikelets with 2 glumes; glumes entire
E. elymoides subsp. brevifolius
        4' Lower spikelets with 2 glumes and 1+ glume-like, reduced florets; glumes entire to divided into 2+ awns
 
          5. Glumes divided into 3+ outward-curving awns; sheath appendages evident, 0.5–1.5 mm
E. multisetus
          5' Glume entire or divided into 2 outward-curving awns; sheath appendages obscure, < 0.5(1) mm
E. elymoides
            6. All glumes entire, awn generally < lemma awn
subsp. californicus
            6' Some glumes divided, awn(s) generally > lemma awn
subsp. elymoides
    2' Glumes flat, base generally > 1.5 mm wide, awn < 25 mm
 
      7. Inflorescence with 2–4 spikelets at all or most nodes
 
        8. Inflorescence nodding; glumes curving outward from base; base of lower florets exposed
E. canadensis
        8' Inflorescence erect; glumes not curving outward at base, base of lower florets concealed — awns, if present, generally straight
E. glaucus
          9. Lemma awn < 5 mm
subsp. virescens
          9' Lemma awn 10–30 mm
 
            10. Leaf sheaths smooth or rough but not hairy
subsp. glaucus
            10' Leaf sheaths, blades sparsely to densely hairy, hairs spreading or directed downwards
subsp. jepsonii
      7' Inflorescence with 1 spikelet at all or most nodes
 
        11. Lemmas awned, awns curving out at maturity
 
          12. Spikelets 9–15 mm; inflorescence breaking apart at maturity
E. scribneri
          12' Spikelets 10–18 mm; inflorescence not breaking apart at maturity
 
            13. Stem 6–10 dm; leaf blade generally > 10 cm
E. arizonicus
            13' Stem 3–5 dm; leaf blade generally < 10 cm
E. sierrae
        11' Lemma awns straight or 0
 
          14. Plants with rhizomes
E. lanceolatus subsp. lanceolatus
          14' Plants with tufted stems, rhizomes generally 0
 
            15. Anthers 3–6 mm; most inflorescence internodes > 15 mm
E. stebbinsii
            15' Anthers 1–2.5 mm; most inflorescence internodes < 15 mm
E. trachycaulus
              16. Lemma awn > lemma body, 8–30 mm
subsp. subsecundus
              16' Lemma awn < lemma body, < 7 mm
subsp. trachycaulus


University & Jepson Herbaria Home Page |

Copyright by the Regents of the University of California