Elymus kaschgaricus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 25–35 cm long; 2 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 6–15 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides; hirsute; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 3–8 cm long; 5–7 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; crowded. Rhachis internodes 4–5(–8) mm long.

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; 9–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn recurved at base of limb; 7–11 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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