Elymus pendulus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 20–85 cm long; 1.8–2.5 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes. Peduncle pubescent above.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 9–13 cm long; 9–15 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; pubescent on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes 4–6(–24) mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 14–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins villous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–6 mm long overall. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex truncate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 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.