Leymus chakassicus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 50–130 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 9–20 cm long; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 5–20 cm long; 15–25 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface, or pilose on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded; with subequal internodes, or lowest internode elongated.

Spikelets in pairs, or in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 2–3 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 12–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets. Lower glume linear; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 10–15 mm long; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned all along, or above. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Triticeae. Peshkova 2013.

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