Leymus ordensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 50–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 2–4 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 8–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1–3 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 4–5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins excurrent. Upper glume subulate; 5–6 mm long; 0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins excurrent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy all along, or above. Lemma apex attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–2 mm long overall. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Triticeae. Peshkova 2005.

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