Elymus humilis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–25 cm long; 2 -noded; with 0.15–0.2 of their length below uppermost node. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes brown. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 2.5–10.5 cm long; 2.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 4.5–7 cm long. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface, or puberulous on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes 5–9 mm long.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets laterally compressed; 8–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 2–4 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 2–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough below. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 2–5 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5 of their length adorned; with hairs 0.5 mm long. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Palea apex emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 2 mm long; purple. 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.