Leymus salinus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 1–4 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle smooth, or scaberulous above.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 5–12 cm long. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar. Lower glume subulate; 4–8 mm long; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Upper glume subulate; 4–8 mm long; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–16 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA and southwest USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Man US Grasses 2000.

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