CYTOTAXONOMY OF THE SPECIES AND INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS OF THE GENUS ELYMUS IN CANADA AND NEIGHBORING AREAS

Abstract

A cytotaxonomic treatment is given for 12 native species, 2 introduced species, and 3 natural interspecific hybrids of the genus Elymus L. that occur in Canada. Five of the native Elymus species and an additional natural interspecific hybrid are found in Alaska. Eleven of the native species, one introduced species, and two of the natural interspecific hybrids are present in the mainland United States. Some additional native species and natural interspecific hybrids of Elymus from the mainland United States are treated briefly.Nomenclatural proposals include: Elymusglaucus Buckl. var. virescens (Piper) Bowden; E. ×uclueletensis Bowden (E. mollis Trin. f. mollis × E. glaucus Buckl. var. glaucus); E. × aleuticus Hultén (pro sp.) (E. mollis Trin. f. mollis × E. hirsutus Presl); E. canadensis L. var. wiegandii (Fern.) Bowden f. wiegandii and f. calvescens (Fern.) Bowden; E. ×maltei Bowden nm. maltei, nm. simulans Bowden, nm. churchii Bowden, and nm. brownii Bowden (E. virginicus L. × E. canadensis L.); E. virginicus L. var. jenkinsii Bowden; E. hystrix L. var. bigelovianus (Fern.) Bowden; E.piperi Bowden; E. innovatus Beal subsp. innovatus var. glabratus Bowden; and E. triticoides Buckl. var. pacificus (Gould) Bowden. Hystrixpatula Moench is here treated as Elymushystrix L.Voucher specimens are cited for the following chromosome number determinations:(1) diploid, 2n = 14: Elymusjunceus.(2) tetraploid, 2n = 28: Elymus canadensis var. canadensis, E. canadensis var. wiegandii f. wiegandii, E. diversiglumis, E. glaucus var. glaucus, E. glaucus var. virescens, E. hirsutus, E, hystrix var. hystrix, E. hystrix var. bigelovianus, E. innovatus subsp. innovatus var. innovatus, E. × maltei nm. maltei, E. riparius, E. sibiricus, E. villosus f. villosus, E. virginicus var. virginicus f. virginicus, and E. virginicus var. submuticus.Earlier literature reports (based on voucher specimens) are given for the following:(1) tetraploid, 2n = 28: Elymus mollis (two subsp. and three forms), E. piperi, and E. × vancouverensis nm. crescentianus.(2) hexaploid, 2n = 42: Elymus × vancouverensis nm. vancouverensis, and E. × vancouverensis nm. californicus.(3) octoploid, 2n = 56: Elymus arenarius, E. innovatus subsp. velutinus, and E. piperi.