G53 



BLUE WILD-RYE 



E'lymus glau'cus 



Leaves broad, thin, flat or inrolled, 

 usually harsh, sometimes smooth be- 

 neath, up to 12 in. long 



Flower heads (spikes) narrow, erect, 

 up to 8 in. long, long-exserted from the 

 upper leaf sheath; axis (rachis) jointed 

 but not separating at the joints 



Stalks (culms) usually somewhat 

 tufted, smooth, up to 5 ft. high 



Roots fibrous, perennial 



Individual flower groups (spikelets) 2 

 (rarely 3) at each rachis joint, stalkless, 

 2- to 6-flowered 



Lowest (2) spikelet bracts (glumes) 

 narrow, distinctly 3- or 4-nerved to 

 base, broadened above the base, rigid, 

 bristle- (awn-) pointed, persistent 



Outer flower bract (lemma) shorter 

 than glumes, often white-margined, 

 mostly harsh near the tip, tapering to 

 a slender, straight, harsh, ascending 

 beard (awn) about % in. long 



