Elymus magnipodus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 20–35 cm long; 1–2.5 mm diam.; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 40–70 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight; bilateral; 6–9 cm long. Rhachis flattened; glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes 10–28 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 4–7 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 4–7 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or curved; 9–15 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex truncate, or obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long; black.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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