Elymus afghanicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes scaberulous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough abaxially; pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 14–16 cm long. Rhachis flattened; smooth on margins, or scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus base truncate. Rhachilla internodes sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 6–7 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 4–6 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 7–8 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 4–6 -veined. Upper glume margins smooth, or scaberulous; ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8.5–9.5 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; lightly keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma margins ciliolate. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse; mucronate. Principal lemma awn 0.4–0.8 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy above. Palea apex emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 5–5.5 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Bor 1997.

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