Elymus himalayanus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–85 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–17 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels 0–2 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 4.5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn (2.5–)4–10 mm long. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 11–12.5 mm long; 0.5–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn (2.5–)4–10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 11–12.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; glabrous, or villous. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; 30–50 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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