Elymus brachyphyllus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute, or convolute; 7–15 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; erect; bilateral; 8–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 15–25 mm long. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 12–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 5–7 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 8–10 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 12 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 12–20 mm long overall. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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