Elymus karakabinicus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 70–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 9–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 9–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–6 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7.5 mm long; 0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–6 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough above. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough on veins. Lemma apex acute; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Triticeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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