Agropyron bulbosum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 10–20 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; oblong; bilateral; 2–3 cm long; 12 mm wide. Rhachis scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes oblong; 2 mm long.

Spikelets pectinate; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 8–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; keeled all along; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 8–10 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled all along; 5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins convergent at apex. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 8–10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 8–9 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 6–9.5 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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