Elymus gentryi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 70–110 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–20 cm long; 5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 12–16 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on surface; pubescent on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 12–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 6–8.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse; mucronate. Upper glume oblong; 6–8.5 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; mucronate; 3 -awned (mucros). Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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