Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 83 (1753).

Derivation: Elymos, a Greek name for millet.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Wheat-grasses.

Description:
Perennials with tufted or rhizomatous growth; leaf blade flat or rolled; ligule scarious.

Inflorescence a spike; spikelets 3-13-flowered, compressed, solitary and sessile in alternate very shallow notches in the rhachis of the spike; one face of the spikelet (sides of the glumes and lemmas) appressed to the rhachis; glumes 2, persistent, shorter than the florets, 3-12-nerved; lemmas rounded on the back with usually 5 nerves converging at the summit, c. 1-2 cm long including an awn or awn 0; ovary pubescent at the top.

Distribution:  Over 100 species, world-wide. Formerly included in Agropyron. 3 species naturalised in Australia, 1 native.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Á. Löve (1984) Repriurn nov. Spec. Regni veg. 95:425-521 recognised 4 genera for the species treated here in Elyrnus:-

Key to Species:

1. Leaves densely pubescent above with fine hairs; spike rhachis breaking above each spikelet	E. farctus 2.
1. Leaves glabrous or scabrous above or with a few scattered hairs; spike rhachis not breaking
2. Plant tufted, lacking rhizomes.
3. Lemmas awnless	E. elongatus 1.
3. Lemmas with 2-4 cm long awns	E. scabrus 4.
2. Plant with long creeping rhizomes	E. repens 3.

Author: Not yet available