Elymus russellii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 5–20 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 8–15 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 7–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 7–11 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy all along. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 10–20 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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