Elymus alienus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–90 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 12–20 cm long; 4–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle 23–35 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 7–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 14–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–2.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.4–0.6 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–6 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–6 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lemma margins scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 10–25 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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