Classical name for rye.

Annual to rarely perennial herbaceous grass. Leaves rolled in bud. Ligule truncated, membranous. Inflorescence a laterally flattened dense distichous spike. Spikelet laterally flattened. Glumes 2, 1- nerved. Lemmas hairless, 5-nerved. Palea apically notched, 2-nerved, 2-keeled.

Seed.

Major grain crop species (S. cereale).

Similar to Wheat (Triticum) but spikelet 2-flowered, glumes narrow, 1-nerved, lemma narrow, hairy along its ridge.

5 species from the Mediterranean to eastern Europe to South Africa.

Frederiksen & Petersen (1998).

Source: Spencer, R.; Aldous, D.; Stajsic, V.; McGeary, D (2005). Poaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.