Elymus dentatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 25–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 4–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 6–8 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume oblong; 7–9 mm long; 0.8–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 8–9(–11) mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface hispidulous; hairy all along, or below. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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