Elymus L.

Glumes not bulging on the back, up to 3 mm wide. Lemmas tapering into an awn or awnless. Spikelets usually with 3 or more florets. Perennials Elymus

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Plants tufted, some lemmas with awns

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Spikelets 5–7 cm long, cuneate, with 6–12 florets, sessile or almost so, awns slender 15 mm long or more. Rhachilla distinctly hairy. Glumes unequal. Lemmas 8–20 mm long, with awns 2–4 cm long. Tufted perennial c. 1.5 m high. Widespread. Chiefly on clay soils. Fl. summer. Common Wheat Grass Elymus scaber

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Spikelets 1.5–4 cm long, with 6–12 florets. Awns less than 15 mm long. Rhachilla glabrescent. Glumes subequal. Lemmas 7–12 mm long, mucronate or with awn to 14 mm long. Tufted perennial to 80 cm high. Coastal dunes and riparian habitats. Short-awned Wheatgrass Elymus multiflorus