Elymus eremopyroides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 31–37 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam.; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades (1.5–)2.5–5.5 cm long; 2.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; erect; oblong; bilateral; (3.5–)4–4.5 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Rhachis pilose on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 1.5–7 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 10–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8–1.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface hirsute. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 6.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea apex emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Yen 2003.

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