GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Elymus caesifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 50 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded; with 0.33–0.5 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 12.5–18.5 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long; scarious; truncate. Leaf-blades erect; 6.5–12 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 6.5–10 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 8–16 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.3 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4–7 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; with scarious margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn reflexed; 15–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex unappendaged. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Chen 2001.

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