Elymus confusus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 50–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–9 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 10–20 cm long; bearing 8–15 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear; 7–15 mm long.

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; 10–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–8 mm long; 0.33–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous, or scaberulous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; 20–25 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2.7 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, and Mongolia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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