Elymus pungens
(Pers.) Melderis Sea Couch-grassStrongly 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.
VVP, OtP, CVU. Also introduced in New Zealand, USA. Indigenous to south-western Europe, extending to north-west France. Known in Victoria by collections from coastal sands at Point Henry near Geelong and Cowes on Phillip Is., and Coimadai Creek near Bacchus Marsh. Close to Elymus repens and to Thinopyrum junceiforme with both of which it is known to hybridise in Europe.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
