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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Elymus glaberrimus
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Roots woolly. Culms erect; 80 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 3 -noded; with 0.25–0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; scarious. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 8–15 cm long; 3–4 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.
Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 8–12 cm long; bearing 6–11 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; smooth on surface; glabrous on surface; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 7–17 mm long.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.5–2 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus glabrous.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4–6 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acute; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 5.5–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire, or with a unilateral tooth; acute; muticous.
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 10–20 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous. Palea apex emarginate, or truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.
FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 5 mm long; yellow. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex; apex unappendaged. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.
NOTES Triticeae. Chen 2001.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
