Elymus aegilopoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 1–3 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7.5–12 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scaberulous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear; 10–12 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 11–13 mm long; 2–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–9 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7.5–9 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn spreading; 10–17 mm long overall. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

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

NOTES Triticeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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