Agropyron deweyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–75 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 10–25 cm long; 4–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle hirsute above.

Racemes 1; single; lanceolate, or oblong; bilateral; 5–7 cm long; 15 mm wide. Rhachis pilose on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–8 mm long overall; limb scabrous. Palea 5–7 mm long. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Love 2005.

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