Elymus nodosus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 12–20 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–13 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes oblong; 10–12 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 6–8 mm long; 0.75–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 8–9 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 8.5–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma apex apiculate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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