Elymus retroflexus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 55–75 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1–1.2 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–0.5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades 4–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; bilateral; 6.5–12 cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Rhachis flattened; smooth on surface. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; 2–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2.5–3 mm long; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume elliptic; 1.5–5 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 3–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; with membranous margins; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 35–55 mm long overall. Palea lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea apex truncate; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2.5–3 mm long; yellow.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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