51 



This taxon is sometimes referred to as Elymus arenarius var. 

 villosus Mey. (cf. Fernald, 1950). Bowden's (1957, 1964) 

 cytotaxonomic studies of this complex show that both taxa are 

 deserving of species rank. Elymus arenarius is a species of northern 

 Europe, while E. mollis occurs from Iceland and Greenland, across 

 northern North America to northeastern Asia. Bowden recognized three 

 subspecies, one in northeastern Asia and two in North America. Our 

 plants are referable to subsp. mollis var. mollis. 

 2. E. virginicus L. (figure 46) 



Alluvial woods, riverbanks and coastal shores. Frequent throughout 

 the state. A rather variable species with several named varieties and 

 forms. 



Most of our material is referable to var. virginicus. The character 

 "upper sheath inflated, enclosing the base of the spike" used in some 

 keys to distinguish var. virginicus from other varieties is not totally 

 reliable and Bowden (1964) points out that the type specimen has the 

 spike clearly exserted. Variety halopbilus (Bickn.) Wieg., a coastal 

 plant, appears to be distinct, having spikelets pale, greenish-white and 

 leaves often involute. Variety jejunus (Ramaley) Bush does not appear 



to be distinct from var. virginicus. Bowden regards neither var. 

 halopbilus nor var. jejunus as worthy of taxonomic recognition and 

 lumps them under var. virginicus. Only one N.H. specimen of var. 

 glabriflorus (Vasey) Bush has been seen (Batcbelder s.n., 11 Sept. 1902, 

 Manchester, NHA). 

 3v E. riparius Wieg. 



Alluvial woods, occasionally on wooded slopes. Infrequent, 

 scattered at lower elevations through many parts of the state. 



4. E. canadensis L. (figure 47) 



Alluvial woods and riverbanks. Occasional in central and southern 

 parts of N.H. Variable in pubescence; lemmas may be glabrous to 

 scabrous or villous-hirsute. 



5. E. wiegandii Fern, (figure 48) 



Rich or alluvial woods and riverbanks. Infrequent, in northern 

 N.H., south along the Connecticut River. Variable in pubescence; 

 lemmas may be glabrous to scabrous or villous-hirsute. 



This species sometimes appears to intergrade with the closely 

 related E. canadensis. The taxon is treated by some authors as E. 

 canadensis var. wiegandii (Fern.) Bowden. However, evidence from 

 hybridization studies of Church (1967) supports recognition at the 

 species level. 



