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Descriptions

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

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

Elymus spicatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–3 mm wide; light green, or mid-green. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–25 cm long; bearing 5–12 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear; 10–20 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 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. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; scaberulous.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; yellow; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; yellow; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5–7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 10–20 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. 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 North America: Subarctic, western Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Triticeae. Gr Tex 1993.

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