Secale sylvestre Host

Culms densely tufted, rarely solitary, erect but usually geniculate at base, ca. 40 cm tall, glabrous but pilose below spike. Leaf blade flat or involute, 5–10 × 0.2–0.3 cm, both surfaces glabrous or adaxial surface pubescent. Spike erect, 3–8 × 0.8–1 cm excluding awns; rachis fragile, margin ciliate; inter-nodes 3–4 mm. Spikelets with 2 or 3 florets. Glumes linear-subulate, 7–9 mm; awn ca. 20 mm. Lemma spinose-ciliate along keels. Caryopsis black-brown, ca. 5 mm, apex white hairy. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug. 2n = 14.

Cultivated in N China [native to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia, Europe].

Secale fragile M. Bieberstein.