Leymus innovatus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 5–25 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; erect; linear, or oblong; bilateral; 4–9 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume subulate; 2–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume. Lower glume surface pubescent. Upper glume subulate; 2–7 mm long; 0.25–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma. Upper glume surface pubescent.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent, or villous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, and north-central USA.

NOTES Triticeae. WDC.

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