Tausch's Goatgrass

1300-2700 m.

The name Aegilops squarrosa Linnaeus has been misapplied to this species by some authors.

Culms often densely tufted, 18-30(-60) cm high, erect or geniculately ascending. Leaf-blades glabrous or sparsely hairy, up to 17 cm long, 2-6 mm wide. Spikes 5-10 cm long (excluding the awns), cylindrical, with 0(-2) vestigial spikelets at the base rhachis breaking up at maturity. Fertile spikelets 5-13; glumes of lateral spikelets 5-7.5 mm long, truncate, with a short, very blunt tooth on the upper margin; awns of terminal spikelet shorter than the spike.

Culms 20–40 cm tall. Leaf sheath glabrous but margin ciliate; ligule 0.5–1 mm, membranous; leaf blade 4–6 × ca. 0.3 cm, scabrous, adaxial surface pilose. Spike cylindric, with (5–) 7–10(–13) spikelets. Spikelets cylindric, ca. 9 mm, with 3 or 4(or 5) florets. Glumes 4–6 mm, leathery, 7–9(–10)-veined, apex truncate or slightly toothed. Lemma lanceolate, 5-veined; first lemma ca. 7 mm; awn 1–4 cm. Palea equaling lemma. Fl. and fr. May–Jun. 2n = 14.

Distribution: Pakistan (Baluchistan, N.W.F.P. & Kashmir); Turkey eastwards throughout the Middle East to Kashmir and southern USSR (Central Asia).

Fl. & Fr. Per.: May-July

Stony slopes, fields of Triticum, weedy places. Henan, Shaanxi, Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia].

Patropyrum tauschii (Cosson) A. Löve; Triticum tauschii (Cosson) Schmalhausen.