Elymus stenachyrus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–100 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; bilateral; 6–11 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; 0.4–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 7–11 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Triticeae. Tsvelev 2001.

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