Elymus barystachyus

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary, or caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–80 cm long; 2.5–4.5 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–27 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 8–18 cm long; 5–9 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets appressed; solitary to in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate to setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate to setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough below; pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–2 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; yellow, or black.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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