Elymus

Elymus or Hystrix is a genus of herbaceous plants in the Poaceae family. cosmopolitan distribution in both hemispheres.

Description

They are perennial, rhizomatous or cespitose plants. Leaves with ligule generally ciliolate at the apex; blade flat or convoluted, rarely folded. Spike with frequently excavated rachis and a spikelet at each node. Spikelets with 2 glumes and 2-16 flowers. Glumes arranged laterally to the axis of the rachis, with 4-9 nerves, coriaceous, without awn or with a short awn. Lemma lanceolate, with 5 nerves, coriaceous, with or without apical ridge. Palea lanceolate-elliptic, with 2 ciliate-scabride keels. Linear-elliptical caryopsis, free or slightly welded to the palea.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Carlos Linnaeus and published in Species Plantarum 1: 83–84. 1753. The type species is: Elymus sibiricus L.

Etymology

The generic name derives from the Greek Elumos: ancient Greek name for a type of grain.

Cytology

The basic chromosome number of the genus is x = 7, with somatic chromosome numbers of 2n = 28 and 42, or 56 (rarely), since there are diploid species and a polyploid series. Relatively "large" chromosomes. The nucleoli disappear before metaphase.

Species

• Elymus acicularis Suksd.
• Elymus ambiguus Vasey & Scribn.
• Elymus antarcticus Hook.
• Elymus aristatus Merr.
• Elymus australis Scribn. & C.R.Ball
• Elymus brachystachys Scribn. et C.R.Ball
• Elymus caninus (L.) L.
• Elymus condensatus J.Presl
• Elymus desertorum Kar. & Kir.
• Elymus edentatus Suksd.
• Elymus elongatus (Host) Runemark
• Elymus farctus (Viv.) Runemark ex Melderis
• Elymus hanseni Scribn.
• Elymus hirtiflorus Hitchc.
• Elymus lechleri Steud.
• Elymus marginalis Rydb.
• Elymus mollis R.Br.
• Elymus parishii Burtt Davy & Merr.
• Elymus pendulosus H.J.Hodgs.
• Elymus petersonii Rydb.
• Elymus pungens (Pers.) Melderis
• Elymus repens (L.) Gould.
• Elymus salinus M.E.Jones
• Elymus saundersii Vasey
• Elymus saxicola Scribn. et J.G.Sm.
• Elymus simplex Scribn. et T.A.Williams
• Elymus stigosus Rydb.
• Elymus velutinus Scribn. Merr.
• Elymus villiflorus Rydb.
• Elymus villosus Muhl. ex Willd.
• Elymus virginicus L.
• Elymus vulpinus Rydb.