Elymus cognatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 6–15 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 5–7 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex emarginate, or acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 3–5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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