Elymus serpentinus

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 4–15 cm long; 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; drooping; sinuous; bilateral; 7–11 cm long. Rhachis flattened; scabrous on surface; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes 7–12 mm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic to oblong; laterally compressed; 13–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 4–5 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex with a unilateral tooth, or dentate; 1–2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 3–4 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keels; 4–5 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex with a unilateral tooth, or dentate; 1–2 -fid; acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 4–6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous; rough on veins; glabrous. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 14–18 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Palea apex emarginate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3 mm long; yellow. Ovary pubescent on apex.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Triticeae. Fl China 2005.

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