Elymus semicostatus

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 45–135 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hirsute. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 4–8(–12) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or arcuate; bilateral; 8–30 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 20–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 10–16.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 11–18 mm long; 0.9–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 12–14 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; keeled above; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn (4–)12–18 mm long overall. Palea 0.75 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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