Elymus heidemaniae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 20–30 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 0.4–0.9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 4–8 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 2–3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 0.75–0.85 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled; 2–3 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–4 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 3.5–4.5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Triticeae. Tsvelev 1995.

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