Elymus lanceolatus subsp. lanceolatus

Common names: Thickspike wheatgrass
Endemic
Synonyms: Agropyron riparium
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 24. Treatment on page 327.

Culms 60-130 cm. Spikes 10-22 cm; internodes 7-15 mm, smooth, scabrous, or hairy distally. Spikelets 10-28 mm. Lemmas not scabrous, moderately hairy, hairs stiff, shorter than 1 mm.

Discussion

Elymus lanceolatus subsp. lanceolatus grows in clay, sand, loam, and rocky soils, and is widely distributed in the western Flora region. It is most likely to be confused with the octoploid Pascopyrum smithii (p. 351); it differs morphologically from that species in having more evenly distributed leaves and acute glumes that tend to taper from midlength or higher, rather than acuminate glumes that tend to taper from below midlength. In addition, the midvein of the glumes of E. lanceolatus is straight, whereas that of P. smithii "leans" to the side distally.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Mary E. Barkworth +, Julian J.N. Campbell +  and Bjorn Salomon +
(Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould +
Thickspike wheatgrass +
Oreg. +, Nev. +, Colo. +, N.Mex. +, Alaska +, Ill. +, Mont. +, Wyo. +, Mich. +, Wis. +, Idaho +, Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, Ont. +, Sask. +, Yukon +, Wash. +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, N.Dak. +, Nebr. +  and S.Dak. +
Agropyron riparium +
Elymus lanceolatus subsp. lanceolatus +
Elymus lanceolatus +
subspecies +