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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 scribneri
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 15–40 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths pubescent, or pilose; with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; entire, or erose. Leaf-blades involute; 4–7 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes 1; single; sinuous; bilateral; 3–6 cm long. Rhachis tardily fragile at the nodes; flattened; smooth on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 3–5 mm long; falling with spikelet above. Rhachis internode tip not enlarged, or clavate (rarely); flat.
Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2 mm long; scaberulous.
GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 2–5 -veined. Lower glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 10–15 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 2–5 -veined. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10–15 mm long.
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 1–2 -fid; with heterogeneous lobes; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; spreading; 20–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.
DISTRIBUTION North America: western Canada, northwest USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.
NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pac NW 1994.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
