Elymus plurinervis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 30–55 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 0.05–1.6 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 1.8–4.1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle glabrous.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 21–70 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 6–13 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–20 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 25–48 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate, or obovate; 7.7–11 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–6 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, or obovate; 8–12 mm long; 0.66–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–8 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 12–14.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 17–27 mm long overall. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.3–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Australia 2010.

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