Elymus scabrifolius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 100–200 cm long; 5–6 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–20 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 6–8 cm long. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis. Rhachis internodes linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes collateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3–4 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–9 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3–4 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 11 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate; mucronate. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 6 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Triticeae. Parodi 2004.

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