Elymus strictus (Keng) S. L. Chen

Löve (Feddes Repert. 95: 458. 1984) did not previously validly publish the combination Elymus strictus; see the note following the genus description above. Because of this, Chen and Zhu (Novon 12: 428. 2002) did not previously validly publish E. strictus var. crassus (Saint Louis Code, Art. 43.1).

Culms erect or slightly geniculate at base, 50–100 cm tall, glabrous throughout. Leaf sheath glabrous; leaf blade glaucous or farinose, involute, (3.5–)8–16 × (0.1–)0.4–0.8 cm, stiff, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial surface pubescent. Spike erect, (3.5–)10–18(–26) cm. Spikelets 1 per node, glaucous, or purplish at maturity, (8–)15–20 mm, with (3–)5–8(–14) florets. Glumes: proximal one 5–8(–11) mm, distal one 6–13 mm, (3–) 5–7-veined, apex acute or with mucro 1–5 mm; veins usually robust, scabrous. Lemma smooth and glabrous abaxially, or only so at middle and then otherwise ± puberulent, or hirsute along veins and on callus; first lemma (7–)9–10 mm; awn suberect, slightly recurved, (7–)14–22 mm, scabrous. Palea equaling lemma, ciliolate along keels distally, between keels puberulent distally or glabrous, apex emarginate or truncate. Anthers usually yellow, 1–2 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Oct. 2n = 28*.

Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.

* Mountain slopes, valleys, meadows, roadsides; 1300–4000 m.

Basionym: Roegneria stricta Keng, Acta Univ. Nankin. Sci. Nat. 1963(1): 68. 1963.