Abstract: Taxonomic studies of Elymus L. raise confusing questions such as Elymus L. definition, taxonomical classification and phylogenetic relationships among Elymus species summarized in this paper based on existing literature. Elymus L. genus is an important economic taxon in Triticeae. Most species of Elymus are good grazing grasses and some species have exceptional characteristics for enduring cold, drought and alkalinity. These are always used as important germplasm resources for grass breeding and improved breeds of crops. However, Elymus is a complicated genus and many controversial questions are proposed by different scholars. These questions arise not only by its own complexity, but also by the subjective factors of agrostologists with different research methods.

Key words: Elymus L., Taxonomy, Phylogenetic relationships

摘要： 披碱草属(Elymus L.)是禾本科、小麦族的一个经济属,其属内绝大多数种是优良牧草,饲用价值极高,有些种类具有耐寒、耐旱、耐碱等特性,是农牧业良种繁育、牧草利用的重要基因资源;但该属同时又是分类学上的一个疑难属,其属中的存疑问题较多,尤其是属的界限、属下类群的划分、以及类群演化关系上仍存在颇多争议。本文详细总结了国内外诸多学者的研究成果,分析了披碱草属分类学研究中存在争议的原因,主要是披碱草属地理分布高度重叠,生态适应相似;加之,分类标准的不同,采用的研究方法差异较大,以什么性状作为鉴别特征等方面不同学者存在不同的认识。

关键词: 披碱草属, 分类, 亲缘关系