Elymus glaucissimus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Stolons present. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 4–7 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 10–17 cm long. Rhachis scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4 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. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 5 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 7 mm long; 0.66 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–4 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; recurved at base of limb; 17–30 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Popov 1995.

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