Elymus haifensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long. Culm-internodes glaucous; smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 12–25 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 17–30 cm long; bearing 5–11 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; smooth on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets rhomboid; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 5–8 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma apex emarginate, or truncate, or obtuse; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Cyprus 1997.

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