Relatives
Elymus confusus (Roshev.) Tzvel. - Confusing wild rye.
Taxonomic position.
Family Poaceae Barnhart., genus Elymus L.Synonyms.
Agropyron confusum Roshev., Roegneria confusa (Roshev.) Nevski.Biology and morphology.
Perennial herb. Root system is well-developed and forms dense sod. Stems grow up to 30-80 (100) cm tall and are thin, erect, more rarely genuflexed at the base. Sheathes glabrous. Leaf blades up to 3.0-8.0 (9.0) mm wide, flat, sometimes slightly involuted, glabrous or sometimes pubescent on the upper surface. Spike laxiflorous nutant, 7.0-20.0 cm long with 15-24 single spikelets; pinkish violet at flexuous axis. Spikelets have 3-5 flowers. Spikelets. branches almost glabrous with minute spines. Glume 2.5-7.5 mm long, lanceolate with 1-5 ridges and a pointed awn (awn 3.0-4.0 mm long). Lower glume is half the length of the lemma. Lemma 9.0-11.0 mm long, lanceolate, slightly spiny on the backside, with long, deflexed awn 20.0-30.0 mm in length. Anthers 1.3-2(2.7) mm long. Blossoms in June; seeds ripen in August. Cross-pollinated by wind. 2n = 28.Distribution.
Occurs in Southern Siberia and the Far East.Ecology.
Meso-xerophyte, adapted to temperate regions. Grows in dry meadows, on stony slopes, among bushes, in forests, and along rivers and seashores on sands as high as the middle mountain level. Resistant to drought; very cold-resistant and frost-resistant. Resistant to early fall and late spring frosts.Utilization and economic value.
Valuable forage and pasture species for areas with severe winters. Closely related to Elymus sibiricus. Does not tolerate shade. Can be used for hay, haylage. Good palatability. Improves soil structure and fertilization. Used for erosion control. Introduced as cultivated crop in Siberia.Literature cited:
Harkevich S.S., ed. 1985. Vascular Plants of the Soviet Far East. Vol. 1. St. Petersburg: Nauka, 390 p. (in Russian).Malyshev L.I., Peshkova G.A., eds. 1990. Flora of Siberia. Vol. 2. Novosibirsk: Nauka, 361 pp. (in Russian).
Rozhevitz P.U., Shishkin V.K., eds. 1937. Flora of the USSR. Vol. 2. M.-L.: USSR, 778 pp. (in Russian).
Tzvelev N. N. 1976. Poaceae USSR. L.: Nauka, 788 pp. (in Russian).