Bearded couch
Elymus caninus
Synonyms: Zeia biflora, Agropyron caninum var. majus, Triticum caninum var. biflorum, Agropyron donianum, Agropyron caninum var. rigidum, Triticum caninum f. gracilius, Elymus caninus var. behmii, Agropyron caninum var. pauciflorum, Roegneria doniana, Agropyron abchazicum, Agropyron caninum f. coloratum, Triticum caninum var. pseudocaninum, Agropyron caninum var. ustulatum, Agropyron pseudocaninum, Elymus donianus, Triticum submuticum, Agropyron caninum var. biflorum, Elymus caninus subsp. biflorus, Goulardia canina, Triticum repens subsp. biflorum, Triticum caninum subsp. gracilius, Agropyron sepium, Triticum alpestre, Roegneria canina f. mutica, Agropyron caninum var. subrepens, Agropyron caninum f. submuticum, Elymus helveticus, Agropyron caninum var. asperum, Elytrigia canina, Triticum donianum, Agropyron caninum var. glaucum, Triticum caninum var. montanum, Elymus caninus subsp. donianus, Agropyron caninum var. glabrum, Agropyron caninum var. gracile, Elymus caninus var. muticus, Elymus longispicatus, Triticum caninum subsp. alpestre, Roegneria behmii, Agropyron alpinum, Agropyron caninum var. behmii, Agropyron caninum var. triflorum, Agropyron caninum, Agropyron caninum var. subtriflorum, Agropyron biflorum, Braconotia elymoides, Triticum caninum, Triticum caninum var. lapponicum, Roegneria tuskaulensis, Triticum caninum vaginans, Brachypodium caninum, Triticum pseudocaninum, Agropyron caninum var. gracilius, Triticum caninum var. gracilius, Agropyron caninum var. alpinum, Goulardia biflora, Triticum caninum var. variegatum, Agropyron caninum f. muticum, Triticum alpinum, Triticum caninum var. nemorale, Agropyron caninum var. dominii, Brachypodium biflorum, Agropyron rupestre, Triticum caninum var. dasyrrhachis, Agropyron caninum var. tenue, Agropyron caninum subsp. subtriflorum, Roegneria canina, Braconotia canina, Elymus caninus var. donianus, Elymus caninus var. major, Agropyron caninum f. subglaucum, Zeia canina, Agropyron caninum subsp. biflorum, Triticum caninum f. dasyrrhachis, Roegneria canina var. glauca, Elymus trachycaulus subsp. donianus
Gallery
Botanical Description
Elymus caninus (bearded couch, awned wheat-grass) is a loosely tufted, lax-leaved perennial grass of the family Poaceae, growing in caespitose clumps with erect to slightly drooping culms typically 40–110 cm tall. The slightly hairy, green leaf sheaths and flat, soft, mid-green leaf blades 4–10 mm wide bear short, blunt auricles at the sheath junction and a very short membranous ligule. The inflorescence is a slender, lax, nodding terminal spike 5–20 cm long with the rachis bearing solitary spikelets pressed flat to the stem; each spikelet contains 3–6 florets and the lemmas are typically tipped with a slender straight or slightly bent awn 7–20 mm long, giving the spike its characteristic bearded appearance. Pollination is predominantly self, although outcrossing rates vary among populations. An allotetraploid with the genome formula StStHH derived from Pseudoroegneria and small-seeded Hordeum ancestors, bearded couch is native to forest and woodland regions throughout Europe and across to western Asia, where it grows in damp shady places, hedge banks, riverside woodland, and rough grassland on rich neutral to calcareous soils; it has been introduced to Oregon and Washington in the United States.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.