Elymus arcuatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 40–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 1–2 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 6–10 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear; 3–4 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3–5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 0.5–0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–20 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Golosk 1995.

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