Elymus pungens

Strongly rhizomatous perennial. Culms erect, to 80 cm high, usually glaucous. Leaves glabrous; blades flat to involute, 10–20 cm long, 1–2 mm diam., sharp-pointed at apex, smooth on the outer surface, finely scabrous along the raised nerves of the inner surface; ligule truncate, glabrous, c. 0.5 mm long; auricles lacking or up to 1 mm long, not or barely embracing culm. Inflorescence a distichous spike 5–12 cm long, with 12–30 spikelets. Spikelets usually 5–7-flowered, 10–18 mm long; glumes subequal, lanceolate, 6–10 mm long, obtuse to acute but not awned, 3–7-nerved, smooth or sparsely scabrous toward the apex; lemma resembling glumes; palea slightly shorter than lemma. Flowers Sep.–Jan.