e-Key v3 - *Elytrigia
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Poaceae - Pooideae - Triticeae - *Elytrigia Desv.

Description :

  • Perennial, tufted, stoloniferous
  • Leaf blade linear, expanded or rolled; ligule an unfringed membrane
  • Inflorescence a single spike, rachis not disarticulating; spikelets solitary, sessile to subsessile, alternately arranged (distichous), usually overlapping
  • Spikelet 10-20 mm long, disarticulating above or falling with glumes; glumes slightly shorter than spikelet, similar, ovate, oblong to lanceolate, awned
  • Florets 3-8(-10), bisexual, uppermost floret reduced; lemma blunt, 5-nerved, nerves confluent towards tip, shortly awned; awn straight; palea present
  • Lodicules 2, membranous, ciliate
  • Stamens 3
  • Ovary hairy
  • Caryopsis hairy at apex
  • x = 7 (high polyploidy)

Nomenclature:

  • *Elytrigia Desv.
    • Desvaux: 190 (1810)
    • Dewey: 209 (1984)
    • Löve: 484 (1984)
    • Clayton & Renvoize: 150 (1986) included in Elymus L.
    • Gibbs Russell et al.: 132 (1990)
    • Watson & Dallwitz: 370 (1994)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 8, north and south temperate regions
  • Southern Africa : Species 1, * Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski, naturalised, Western and Eastern Cape

References:

  • CLAYTON, W.D. & RENVOIZE S.A. 1986. Genera graminum. Grasses of the world. Kew Bulletin . Additional series 13
  • DESVAUX, N.A. 1810. Eustachys . Nouveau bulletin des sciences, publié par la Société Philomatique de Paris 2
  • DEWEY, D.R. 1984. The genomic system of classification as a guide to the perennial Triticeae . In J.P. Gustafson, Gene manipulation in plant improvement . Plenum, New York
  • GIBBS RUSSELL, G.E., WATSON, L., KOEKEMOER, M., SMOOK, L., BARKER, N.P., ANDERSON, H.M. & DALLWITZ. M.J. 1990. Grasses of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 58
  • LÖVE, Á. 1984. Conspectus of the Triticeae . Feddes Repertorium 95
  • WATSON, L. & DALLWITZ, M.J. 1994. The grass genera of the world , revised edn. CAB International, Oxon