Beckmannia 



GRAMINEAE 



Agropyron 



or subcollateral ; lemmas several-3-nerved, the awns when present terminal, straight 

 or divergent: perennials or annuals with auricled blades and terminal spikes. 



Key to the Genera 



A. Spikelets solitary at each node of the rachis. 



Spikelets placed edgewise to the rachis; first (inner) glume wanting 



(except in the terminal spikelet) 33. Lolium 



Spikelets placed sidewise to the rachis; both glumes present. 

 Lemma with a distinct callus; grain usually adherent to the lemma 



and palea 31. Agropyron 



Lemma without callus; grain free 32. Triticum 



AA. Spikelets 1 to 3 at each node of the rachis. 



Spikelets 3-nate; glumes linear or setaceous 34. Hordeum 



Spikelets 2-nate; glumes reduced or obsolete 35. Hystrix 



31. Agropyron Gaertn. Wheatgrass ftlU^M (0 Kuan Ts'ao Shu; 



Goose-like-grass Genus) 



Perennials with simple culms and terminal spikes: spikelets placed sidewise to the 

 rachis, several-fid., usually solitary at each node of the rachis: glumes subequal, 

 usually shorter than the first floret; lemmas firm. 5-nerved, awned from the tip or 

 rarely awnless, with a distinct callus; grain usually adherent to the lemma and palea. 

 About 60 species, mostly in the temperate zone; 10 in China. (Greek: agros, wild, 

 and puros, wheat.) 



Key to the Species 



a. Margins of the lemma more or less scarious, neither ciliate nor 

 scaberulous. 

 Spikes usually drooping: awns slender, flexuous. 



Culms slender, 30-75 cm. tall: spikes 7-15 cm. long: spikelets 



4-7-fid., 13-20 mm. long 1. A. semicostatum 



Culms rather stout, 75-150 cm. tall: spikes 15-25 cm. long: 



spikelets 5-15-fld., 15-25 mm. long la. A. semicostatum 



var. transiens 



Spikes usually erect: awns rigid, straight 2. A. mayebaranum 



aa. Margins of the lemma not scarious, usually ciliolate or scaberulous. 

 1). Lemmas entire; keels of palea only scaberulous at apex: 



grains glabrous 3. A. integrum 



bb. Lemmas mostly minutely 2-lobed; keels of paleae rigidly 

 ciliolate or scaberulous above: grains pubescent at apex, 

 c. Lemmas distinctly awned; awns 5-20 mm. long. 



Culms 30-120 cm. tall: blades 3-10 mm. wide 4. A. ciliare 



Culms 20-25 cm. tall: blades 1-2 mm. wide 4a. A. ciliare 



var. pauperum 



cc. Lemmas nearly awnless or with an awn 1-3 mm. long 4b. A. ciliare 



var. submuticum 



1. Agropyron semicostatum (Steud.) Nees (Hitch. 242). Culms 30-75 cm. high; fls. 



IV; fr. VI. India and China; locally in An., Che., Ki., Ku. Shady and moist 



ground. Fig. 419. 



la. Agropyron semicostatum var. transiens Hack. Culms 75-150 cm. high; fls. IV; 



fr. VI. Eastern Asia; locally in Che., Ki., Ku. Waste ground and grassy slopes. 



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