Elymus dahuricus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–130 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate, or lanceolate; 10–30 cm long; 3–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 7–23 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 6–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0.5–2 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 6–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0.5–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6.5–11 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 8–15 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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