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Volume V (2000) - Flora of New Zealand Gramineae
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Elymus L.

Elymus L., 1753

Type species: E. sibiricus L.

Tussocky or open tall, tufted, coarse or small grasses, with intra- or extravaginal branching. Spikelets sessile, laterally compressed, solitary (in New Zealand species), broadside to tough rachis, appressed to or diverging from it; rachis not prolonged; spikelet imbricate of many long-awned to mucronate florets; disarticulating above glumes. Glumes firm, long triangular, margins membranous, 1-3-5 parallel nerves, obtuse to shortly and distinctly awned. Lemma rounded, smooth to somewhat scabrid, coriaceous, 5-nerved, keeled above. Lodicules ciliate. Ovary with apical corona and hispid hairs. Caryopsis adherent to palea.

Key

1
Long awned florets in spikelets appressed to rachis of ascending or nodding inflorescences
2
Long awned florets in spikelets divergent from rachis of erect spikes or appressed to rachis of inflorescences trailing on the ground, or florets short-awned
5
2
Leaf-blades flat, margins involute; auricles long, clasping
3
Leaf-blades involute; auricles minute or absent, sheath margins becoming apical lobes
4
3
Leaf-blades usually glaucous and glabrous abaxially; awn recurved; palea apex pointed, bifid
7. solandri
Leaf-blades coarsely hirsute; awn straight, rarely recurved; palea apex blunt, truncate to retuse
5. rectisetus
4
Leaf-blades short, variously falcate, sinuous, or straight, abaxially glaucous usually with scattered erect long (1 mm) hairs; culms prostrate to ascending
3. falcis
Leaf-blades long thin and strict, abaxially ribbed, glabrous and glaucous, adaxially with dense weft of hairs at base; culms erect
6. sacandros
5
Awn long, straight or recurved, 2-3 × lemma
6
Awn short, straight, up to 1 × lemma
7
6
Culm trailing along ground, uppermost internode greatly elongating after anthesis; spikelets appressed to rachis; anthers 2-3 mm, yellow
8. tenuis
Culm erect, uppermost internode short; spikelets widely divergent from rachis; anthers 4-9 mm, purple to yellow
1. apricus
7
Inflorescence of long widely spaced many-flowered spikelets; palea apex blunt, truncate to retuse; lemma apex bifid if mucronate
4. multiflorus
Inflorescence of small close-set, few-flowered shining spikelets; palea apex pointed, bifid; lemma apex bifid
2. enysii

A cosmopolitan genus of 20 or 150 species depending on generic interpretation. Endemic spp. 6, indigenous sp. 1; naturalised sp. 1.

Treatment follows Connor, H. E. N.Z. J. Bot. 32: 125-154 (1994), derived in part from Connor, H. E. N.Z. J. Sci. Tech. 35B: 315-343 (1954) and Löve, Á. and Connor, H. E. N.Z. J. Bot. 20: 169-186 (1982). All species are self-compatible and chasmogamous but cleistogamy may occur in E. falcis, E. multiflorus and E. tenuis.

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