Elymus fedtschenkoi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 55–120 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 12–30 cm long; 3–11 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

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

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 16–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 11–17 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 11–17 mm long; 0.9–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 12–14 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; 15–40 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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