Elymus macrourus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 1.5–9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 4.5–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 6–9 mm long. Rhachis internode tip flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 10–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–10 mm long; 0.7–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–7 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 1–2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: northern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia. North America: Subarctic.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Alaska 1994.

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