Elymus abolinii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 80–115 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect, or drooping; bilateral; 10–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with scarious margins; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–13 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn ascending, or spreading; 3–22 mm long overall. Palea 8–10 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3.5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.