Elymus panormitanus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 65–90 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 10–20 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–3 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–18 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–3 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate to oblong; 9–12 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough above. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 20–35 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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