Elymus debilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–60 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 5–7 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or hirsute; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; arcuate; bilateral; 6–11 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes 4–5 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; 9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1.5–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1.5–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 7–10 mm long overall. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface scabrous. Palea apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long; yellow.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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