New Elymus taxa

 

Elymus shandongensis B. Salomon 1990

Elymus yangiae Bao-Rong Lu 1992

Elymus cacuminus Bao-Rong Lu et B. Salomon 1993

Elymus retroflexus Bao-Rong Lu et B. Salomon 1993

Elymus validus (Melderis) B. Salomon 1994

Elymus alopex B. Salomon 2005

Elymus alopex.

Elymus alopex
This species is endemic to Iceland. It was previously cofused with the continental Elymus caninus but is clearly separated by its dense, erect and unilateral spikes. Its relationships to other Elymus species are still unclear but the available data suggest that it probably is closely related to E. caninus and E. alaskanus subsp. islandicus. In a current study we hope to disclose this by molecular markers and DNA-sequencing. The hypothesis is that E. alopex is an ancient monoploid hybrid between E. caninus (extinct) and E. alaskanus subsp. islandicus (extant). A distribution map of E. alopex is given on the Flora of Iceland website.

A. Elymus alopex (Iceland), B. A lax and distichous variant of E. caninus (Geilo, Norway). C. A relatively dense and secund variant of E. caninus (Northern Jylland, Denmark). Note the very dense and erect spike of E. alopex. In E. caninus the spikes usually bend already at the flowering stage but in some populations the spikes are more or less erect although they too frequently become curved at seed maturity.


A

B

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