Elymus

Plants perennial, tufted or rhiozmatous. Culms usually erect. auricles sometimes present at apex of leaf sheath; leaf blade flat or inrolled. Inflorescence an erect to nodding spike. Spikelets 1 or 2 (rarely more) per node, sessile, appressed to rachis, laterally compressed, with 2–10 or more florets, falling intact or above glumes; rachis tough, not disarticulating. Glumes opposite or side-by-side, firmly membranous to leathery, 1–9(–11)-nerved, not keeled, apex obtuse to shortly awned. Lemma lanceolate-oblong, dorsally rounded, 5-veined, ±pubescent, apex obtuse or acute to awned, rarely toothed. Palea shorter than or equal to lemma. Callus glabrous.