Poaceae
Elymus

Elymus tenuis (Buchanan) Á.Löve & Connor

First published in New Zealand J. Bot. 20: 183 (1982)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is New Zealand. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the temperate biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Morphology General Habit
Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms decumbent; weak; 50-100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 15-30 cm long; 1-2 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence composed of racemes. Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10-15 cm long; bearing 6-10 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets
Spikelets comprising 5-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 8-10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2-3 mm long; sparsely hairy. Floret callus bearded.
Fertile
Spikelets comprising 5-10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 8-10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2-3 mm long; sparsely hairy. Floret callus bearded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts Glume
Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7-10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7-10 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3-5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9-11 mm long; coriaceous; 3-5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 30-40 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2-3 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
Distribution
Australasia: New Zealand.
Reference
Triticeae. Connor 1994.
Diagnostic
Callus beard in a complete ring.
[GB]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

    • Clayton, W.D., Vorontsova, M.S., Harman, K.T. and Williamson, H. (2006 onwards). GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora.
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0