Elymus schrenkianus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; (20–)35–90 cm long. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 4.5–15 cm long; 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; unilateral; 5–11 cm long. Rhachis flattened; smooth on margins, or scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis (as to glumes); crowded. Rhachis internodes oblong; 5–7 mm long.

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; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes lateral; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume elliptic; 3–4.5 mm long; 0.3–0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; reflexed; 15–25 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; elliptic; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.25–1.5 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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