Elymus alatavicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 35–75 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 2–4 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 9 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough above and on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with scarious margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above and on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.5–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 2–3 mm long overall. Palea 7.5–8 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 4 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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