Elymus sanctus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with reticulate dead sheaths. Culms 45–110 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 7–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–9 cm long; bearing 5–8 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 1 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1–1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–1.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.5–9 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 4 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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