Elymus curtiaristatus

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths villous. Culms erect; 40–65 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 4–10 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 9–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes 7–12 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 13–19 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma margins scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–10 mm long overall. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface scabrous. Palea apex truncate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.3–3.2 mm long; black.

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.