Elymus batalinii

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 3.5–6.5 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes linear. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 9–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 8 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–12 mm long overall. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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