Relatives

Agropyron cristatum (L). Gaertn. - Crested wheat grass.

Taxonomic position.

Family Poaceae Benth. Genera Agropyron Gaertn.

Morphology and biology.

Perennial plant. Stalks 20-80 cm high, numerous, direct or slightly bent at the base; topped by long, twisted more or less crowded fuzz; especially dense under spike. Radical leaves are usually little and differ in length, sometimes are absent; stem leaves slightly deflected from stalk, from above are covered with short dense fuzz, flat or curtailed. Spike and bottom floral scales are more or less haired. Spikes dense, 1.5-4 cm long, 1-2 cm wide. The axis of spikelet is covered with very short aciculae. Flowering period: May - June.

Distribution.

Mountain Altai, the Central Siberia, Yakutia, the Far East, Mongolia, Northeast China.

Ecology.

In steppes; on steppe, it is frequently on carbonate slopes of wood belt, on dry and inundated terraces, in steppe woods.

Use and economic value.

Fodder grass.

Reference citations:

Savkina Z.P., Andreeva T.V., Parilova V.I. 1982. The fodder grass in flora of Yakutia and in culture. - Novosibirsk: Nauka, 86 p. (in Russian).
The vascular plants of Soviet Far East; V.1. - L.: "Nauka", 1985. 398 p.(in Russian).
Flora of Siberia. г.2. Poaceae (Gramineae.) - Novosibirsk: "Science", 1990. 361 pages.
Malyshev L.I, G.A. Peshkova, 1979. Flora of the Central Siberia. г.1. Onocleaceae-Saxifragaceae. Novosibirsk: "Science" 431 pages (in Russian).
Tzvelev N.N. Grasses of the USSR. - L., "Science", 1976. 788 pages (in Russian).

© Malyshev L.L.