Elymus lolioides

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation distinct. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins unthickened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes sparsely hairy.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 4–6 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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