Elymus kasteki

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Culm-nodes purple; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–20 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; bilateral; 8–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; contiguous. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–7 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Popov 1995.

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